A “significant” increase in player participation post-Covid has renewed calls for new facilities at Drysdale as a women’s Big V match was abandoned due to hailstones leaking onto the court.
It comes as a Big V women’s Division 1 game between Bellarine Storm and Mildura Heat was called off Bellarine Secondary College in Drysdale after hailstones fell onto the court through the roof on May 6.
The number of teams using local facilities has jumped by a further 27 compared to the summer season, the association’s Facebook page Bellarine’s Home Court Advantage revealed.
Total player numbers have jumped from 1861 last winter to 2410 this year and there had been a “staggering” increase of 12 teams in the Under 10 boys competition alone.
The association’s operations manager Nick Stamatopoulos told this publication it had access to eight courts for more than 300 teams, with around 70 per cent being junior outfits.
Bellarine Peninsula Basketball Association has proposed to build a new stadium to cater for demand adjacent to existing facilities. Picture: Bellarine Peninsula Basketball.
“It’s been going ballistic, it’s been going crazy after Covid,” Stamatopoulos said.
“Before Covid we had a massive difference between winter and summer season (numbers) because of football.
“And now we’ve got to the point … we have exactly the same number in participation. It’s a lot more than we used to have before.”
The association has been working on a plan to build a new stadium adjacent to the existing facilities at its central location at the college – which has three courts – but needs government or local council support.
It is also currently accessing a further five courts at local schools and the Ocean Grove Aquatic Centre.
He said the school’s ageing building was at risk of flooding during heavy rain.
“Every time we have really heavy rainfall, there is water coming through the roof,” he said.
“At the centre of the court … as a mist.
“This time (for the Big V match), there were little hailstones that came through.
“It took about 25 minutes to half an hour to get the court clean.
“But it was unsafe for the athletes to continue so they had to call the game off.
“I’ve never heard of a Big V game being called off due to weather.”
A previous domestic game was also called off due to similar conditions, causing slippery courts.
Association representatives recently met with Bellarine MP Alison Marchant several weeks ago about the need for more courts, amid plans to build additional courts adjacent to the school on council land.
Bellarine Peninsula Basketball Association has been working on a plan to build a new stadium adjacent to the existing school facilities. Picture: Bellarine Peninsula Basketball.
“The competition is booming and that’s great, but we’re not able to do some all abilities stuff,” he said.
“All of our senior teams are training in Geelong rather than in the Bellarine.
“Some of our junior teams are training in Geelong too. It’s not ideal at all.”
There are also an extra nine teams across the Under 10 and 12 girls teams, plus an additional six in the social women’s fixtures.
“The start of the new winter season in Bellarine’s domestic season has seen another significant increase in participation numbers,” the association stated.
“Which places additional pressure on the association in finding sufficient court space to cater for the level of participation.”
Bellarine Peninsula Basketball Association vice president Gary Thompson, president Tony Kane, Bellarine MP Alison Marchant and BPBA General Manager Arron Lothian. Picture: Bellarine Peninsula Basketball Association.
However, Under 10 divisions have been forced to have “double byes” in their draws – with multiple teams missing a round of fixtures – to ensure a workable competition.
“The reality is that unless we can see an increase in the number of courts available to us on the Peninsula, we run the real risk of not being able to manage any further increases in numbers, without potentially compromising the quality of the competition,” it said.
“It’s time for a new stadium for Bellarine to cope with the popularity and growth of the sport in the region.”
City of Greater Geelong’s community services delivery director Robyn Stevens said it had provided funding to the association to develop plans for an expansion and would continue to advocate on its behalf.
“Unfortunately, given we have around $80 million in existing projects proposed to be put on hold due to huge cost increases in the construction sector, we don’t have the ability to fund new projects right now,” Steven said.
Bellarine MP Alison Marchant said she would continue to work with the association and other local clubs for new facilities.