Score for new courts

By Tania Martin
KILYSTH Basketball has scored a slam dunk with a $500,000 windfall for two new courts.
Players have been calling for new courts for more than three years.
But it has only been the last 18 months that the basketball association has been campaigning for cash to make it a reality.
Monbulk MP James Merlino last week announced the cash to help bolster the $2.6 million project.
The two additional courts will be used for basketball and netball matches and tournament.
“This redevelopment will enable the centre to introduce an evening indoor netball competition, and to host national and regional championships,” Mr Merlino said.
“Basketball is one of the four sports played here at the Kilsyth Sports Centre, home to Kilsyth and Mountain District Basketball Association which has 15,000 members and is growing.”
Mr Merlino said the cash would go a long way towards addressing the current court shortages.
The Shire of Yarra Ranges has also allocated $600,000 towards the project and the Kilsyth and Mountain District Basketball Association has put in $1.5 million.
Kilsyth Basketball general manager Grant Wallace said the local community had worked tirelessly to make the project a reality.
“We will now have a first class facility to host a wide variety of games,” he said.
Work on the new courts is expected to be completed by November next year.