Game on: (From left) Annabel, Tanae, Bianca and Livi at the proposed New Gisborne netball complex site. Picture: Marco De Luca
TWO sports centres could be built in the Macedon Ranges south ward if the council gives the green light to the proposal at its next meeting.
Planning has started for a two-court indoor stadium to be built on Education Department land at or next to Gisborne Secondary College.
It will become a home for Gisborne Bulldogs Basketball Club.
The council will consider giving $1.5 million for the Gisborne stadium, which residents can access through a 'joint-use' agreement with the Education Department.
Netball courts previously included in the college stadium project are now proposed for New Gisborne, on land owned by the council. It is proposing to allocate $800,000 for stage one of the project.
Council chief executive Peter Johnston says the extent of the first stage of the netball project will depend on funding but could include a change room, toilets, kiosk, first-aid facilities and two courts.
The complex would be an 'outdoor venue' initially, with an allowance in the master plan for indoor courts to be developed later.
"Netballer numbers are growing and a separate site will provide more opportunity for future expansion and access to car parking without encroaching on open space at the school site," Mr Johnston said.
Gisborne Netball Association president Carmen Hemphill said the association membership had grown by more than 100 girls in the past three years.
"We're thrilled with the proposal; it means we get a home," Hemphill said.
"If the stadium gets to be built at the school it's fantastic. If we get two courts in New Gisborne that's great; it means we can plan for more courts down the track. It means we get to grow."
Gisborne netball and basketball clubs, council and state government representatives met on August 10 to determine a way forward for the Gisborne indoor stadium project, which had stalled for several months.
In April, the council called on the government to keep its promise to provide a funding injection of $3.5 million for the Gisborne stadium. It was guaranteed by the Coalition in November 2010 before its election.
At the time, both Liberal and Labor parties committed to a multimillion-dollar revamp of Gisborne Secondary College, including the building of a state-of-the-art sports centre.
The council will consider the proposals at its meeting at the Romsey Hub at 7pm on August 29.