Trent met with a group of parents and kids at basketball training today, to announce his commitment to build a $10 million indoor sports facility as part of the planned re-development of the Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre. The facility would provide at least 4 indoor netball and basketball courts. 

A thousand Northcote residents have recently signed a petition calling for greater investment in local sporting facilities, to address the big gap that currently exists, particularly for girls’ sport.

“The lack of local netball and basketball facilities in Northcote means that families are having to drive long distances to get their kids to training and games. And their kids are missing out on the community benefits of belonging to a local club,” Trent said.

“There are plenty of football and cricket facilities across the inner north, which are accessed mainly by boys. But there’s a real gap in the sporting opportunities provided for girls, particularly netball.”

“The Victorian government spends $50 million a year on elite sports like the Grand Prix. The Greens are committed to redirecting some of those funds to investing in local sporting facilities that would make a big difference to the health, social and recreational opportunities available to our community.” Trent said