Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk and Cockburn Basketball Association general manager Tyrone Thwaites.
Camera IconFremantle MLA Simone McGurk and Cockburn Basketball Association general manager Tyrone Thwaites. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Hamilton Hill: Wally Hagan Stadium redevelopment gains more support

Jessica NicoCockburn Gazette

FREMANTLE MLA Simone McGurk has praised the role Cockburn Basketball Association plays in the community amid continued pushes to redevelop its ageing venue.

In the same week Willetton Basketball Association celebrated the first ground breaking of their new expansion development, Ms McGurk met with Cockburn representatives to discuss the benefits a similar development at Wally Hagan Stadium could have on local basketball players and the wider community.

Current plans for the association’s base at Dixon Reserve include building a new six court facility that encroaches into nearby Main Roads land, as well as the potential creation of a new oval and two new rectangular pitches for other sports codes to enjoy.

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Ms McGurk said most people in Hamilton Hill would consider the stadium and Dixon Park “the centre of the community”.

“I think this is a really good opportunity to not only support the basketball association and grow it into the future but also to make sure that any development is outward looking and builds on the increased number of residents and growing families in the area,” she said.

“Basketball has proved itself to be a sport that appeals to lots of different people and it’s going from strength to strength so we need to make sure that there’s facilities available to people.

“We are opposed to Roe 8 and Roe 9 and part of this land was part of the road reserve but we think there are much better uses for the community rather than a big freight link.”

Cockburn Basketball Association general manager Tyrone Thwaites said they were excited Ms McGurk was supportive of a Wally Hagan Stadium redevelopment.

“Simone has said that they are committed to replacing land associated with Roe 9 with an asset the community is highly supportive of and a redevelopment of Wally Hagan Stadium is exactly that,” he said.

“Cockburn Basketball Association values inclusion, and a brand new six-court facility allows for us to continue building our able-bodied junior and senior programs, our multi-sport disability program, relationship with wheelchair basketball, and State Basketball League programs.”