Southern Tablelands athletes could soon have a brand new multipurpose facility in the form of the Southern Highlands Indoor Sports Hub.
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Moss Vale and District Basketball Association received over $1 million in funding from the NSW Government in December as part of the Stronger Country Communities Fund ($501,478) as well as an additional $546,477 towards the Lackey Park Indoor Sports Centre.
While the funding will only be used on upgrading existing facilities, the Association reiterated its desire to proceed with the proposed Sports Hub.
Director of Asset and Sponsorship Paul Barcicki said the show of faith from government was promising.
"These are exciting times for Moss Vale and District Basketball Association as we continue to lobby for our new multipurpose community Indoor Sports Stadium and part of that project is the upgrade of the current facility," Mr Barcicki said.
"After many grant applications, these grants will bring our current stadium up to standard with the replacement of the 50-year-old floor, backboards, office, and canteen renovations."
A request for funding to move the Sports Hub to development application status was knocked back at the Wingecarribee Shire Council's December 2021 meeting.
Whilst disappointed with Council's response, Mr Barcicki said the Association remained hopeful and would aim to raise enough money for a DA before the next round of public grants.
"We have been pursuing a new Community Multipurpose Indoor Stadium since 2005," he explained.
"The confidence shown by our local Member Wendy Tuckerman, Minister for Local Government, and these successful grants, gives us hope that, with the support of all levels of government, Wingecarribee Shire Council, State and Federal Governments, bearing in mind we service Goulburn, Wollondilly State, Hume and Whitlam Federal electorates, the Southern Highlands Indoor Sports Hub will soon become a reality.
"Unfortunately, these grants cannot be used for DA studies.
"We will move on with a funding page with the Australian Sports Foundation where tax deductible donations may be made to support this valuable community project and carry out necessary studies to achieve DA status before the next funding cycle."
On court the Association is gearing up for a big year with a full card of representative teams in addition to the much anticipated debut of the Moss Vale Magic in the Senior Women's Spalding Waratah State League.
"2022 will be a big year for the Association," he said.
"With these projects we also have a full complement of Junior representative teams, with two ex BNSW state coaches, five juniors in Basketball NSW programs, our Spalding Waratah Youth League team is back and the first ever Senior Women's Spalding Waratah State League team in our history will take to the courts.
"Women in sport is a significant focus in sport, in line with our strategic plan and we look forward to a successful year ahead.
"We also have the honor, but added pressure, of being recommended to host a Women's World Cup basketball team in September 2022 in tournament preparations."
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