Willetton Basketball Stadium upgrade to go ahead

FEARS the Willetton Basketball Stadium’s $11 million expansion could be in jeopardy due to a funding shortfall have been allayed.

Project costings now indicate just $10 million will be required for the expansion, which can be met with all the funding commitments.

The project initially looked like it would still have a financial hole after the State Government approved just $1.5 million of the $2.25 million requested in its latest round of community sport and recreation facilities fund grants.

The association had raised $800,000 itself and the City of Canning had committed $2.2 million, while the Federal Government had pledged half the project cost at $5.5 million.

But Phil Nixon, of the Willetton Basketball Association, said the shortfall was addressed through a combination of the latest costings, a slight but favourable change in construction approach and the preservation of the Federal grant of $5.5 million.

City of Canning officers also met the WBA to discuss the apparent shortfall when some anomalies with how the WBA had treated the GST with regard to their funding agreements in their calculations were discovered.

It was concluded there would be no shortfall.

The expansion will add four mixed-use indoor courts. These courts will be created by putting a roof over the outdoor courts adjoining the 33-year-old stadium.

Existing indoor courts will be upgraded and a kiosk and servery, administration area, function room, office and grandstands will be constructed.

City of Canning Mayor Paul Ng welcomed the news.

“As well as providing bigger and better facilities to WBA, other community groups including Willross Badminton, Willetton Senior High School, All Saints College, Rossmoyne Senior High School and Basketball WA teams will benefit,” he said.