Basketball court garners support
• Bridport Lions Club secretary Leonie Johnston and Bridport Innovations chairperson Jill Van den Bosch.
By Daisy Baker,
June 22, 2022
The Lions Club of Bridport is currently seeking community feedback on a proposed basketball court to be built on the foreshore between the new skate park and the Surf Life Saving Club.
An online survey was launched last Wednesday calling on Bridport locals, people who own a property in the town or regularly holiday there to weigh in on what they’d like to see.
The survey asks participants if they have children or grandchildren who play basketball, if they or members of their family would support the building of an outdoor basketball court and whether they would prefer a full or half sized court.
Bridport Lions Club secretary Leonie Johnston has been the main driver of the project.
She said there is currently a basketball ring and a 3x3m concrete slab on the edge of the Village Green but it is not large enough to play a game.
Since its installation several years ago, the grass around the slab has sunken, causing an unsafe drop off around the edges.
“With the resurgence of basketball in Tasmania and the desire to give youth, particularly in our community, an opportunity to do something physical, we were keen to provide them with a facility,” she said.
There are currently many keen young players throughout Bridport who represent the school, play in local and Launceston rosters, as well as those who holiday in the town over summer.
This year 34 per cent of junior players in the North-East roster hail from Bridport, which is a steady increase on
previous years.
Meanwhile 41 per cent of juniors in the Launceston roster are from Bridport, who travel to town weekly for games.
Mrs Johnston said Lions has had several meetings with Council and have also been in contact with George Town Council, who recently opened a three-quarter length basketball court, for costings and
other details.
She said with an estimated project cost of around $100,000, Lions alone would not be able to fund the project but she hopes several community groups can come together to support it.
“One of my loves living in Bridport is to work together with the other community groups. Often we have a similar vision so it makes sense to share resources.”
Mrs Johnston said she hopes to get Bridport Innovations (BI) on board, and that Council will consider providing some funding as part of their capital
works budget.
Several different sites have been considered for the basketball court but interested parties have decided the chosen site will be the most suitable with proximity to the skate park which attracts children in a similar target age group.
“It will obviously need lots of drainage but a basketball court would happily fit in there, there’s plenty of room.”
A concept plan is currently being developed and the Lions Club is getting quotes from local contractors and Flatrock Formwork and Concrete, who built the skatepark to get a clearer idea of costings and the process from here.
Mrs Johnston said she has been in touch with the Jack Jumpers who are supportive of the development.
The proposed site for the outdoor basketball court, would be in line with the front of the new skate park, allowing ample parking for families attending events at the Bridport Surf Life Saving Clubrooms.
It’s hoped the survey will attract hundreds of responses.
There is a double pass to the Tassie Scallop Fiesta up for grabs for one
lucky respondent.
You can take part in the survey until June 25 via https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SJ2HGVD