stadium development updates
LAST UPDATED — MARCH 2026
As most of those involved with BPBA will be aware, court space is a major issue for our Association.
We currently operate across ten different venues every week just to meet the demands of our
competitions — and demand keeps growing.
The continued growth of the Bellarine Peninsula basketball community puts significant pressure on
how our competitions run, resulting in challenging fixture arrangements including double byes and
Saturday time slots. We appreciate this can create inconvenience for players, parents and clubs.
Without these measures, running a successful competition while allowing maximum participation
would be even more difficult.
MILESTONE ANNOUNCEMENT – BUSINESS CASE COMPLETED
NOVEMBER, 2025 — We are pleased to announce that BPBA has completed a comprehensive Business Case for the expansion of the Bellarine Sports Centre, developed in partnership with the City of Greater Geelong
and prepared by Otium Planning Group — a leading national consultancy specialising in sport and leisure infrastructure.
The Business Case confirms the urgent need for additional indoor courts on the Bellarine Peninsula
and presents two expansion options: a two-court expansion (taking the venue to five courts) or a
three-court expansion (creating a full six-court facility with a dedicated show court seating up to 1,500 spectators).
The completed Business Case is now being used to actively advocate for State and Federal Government funding. We continue to work closely with our local Members of Parliament and the City of Greater Geelong to progress this project.
The Board and staff of the BPBA have been working hard with local politicians, Basketball Victoria, and the City of Greater Geelong towards a long-term solution: the expansion of the Bellarine Sports Centre at Bellarine Secondary College, Drysdale. After years of planning and advocacy, we are pleased to share that this project has now reached a significant milestone.
VIEW BUSINESS CASE SUMMARY REPORT
WHAT WE’RE PROPOSING
The proposed expansion would extend the existing three-court Bellarine Sports Centre at Bellarine Secondary College on its western side, seamlessly integrating with the current facility. Two concept options have been developed and costed:
Option A — Two-Court Expansion (five courts total) Total estimated project cost: $41.4 million
Option B — Three-Court Expansion (six courts total) Total estimated project cost: $46.9 million — this is our preferred option.
Both options include:
• Fully compliant new courts suitable for basketball, netball, and multi-sport use
• A dedicated show court with 500 fixed seats and 1,000 retractable seats — a total capacity of 1,500 spectators
• New changerooms, referees’ facilities, and universal access amenities
• A new entry foyer, café, administration offices, and a function room overlooking the show court
• Relocated car parking and improved site access
The expanded facility would serve BPBA’s full program range: domestic competitions, VJBL and BigV representative programs, school holiday clinics, high performance pathway programs, and major regional events including Junior National Championships, Victorian Country Championships, and potentially NBL/WNBL games.
WHY DOES THE BELLARINE NEED THIS UPGRADE?
The numbers tell the story. BPBA has grown dramatically — and the existing three-court facility at Bellarine Secondary College simply cannot keep pace.
THE STATE PICTURE —
It’s not just us. Basketball Victoria’s Facility and Infrastructure Priorities (2024) has identified the three-court expansion at Bellarine Sports Centre as a state priority project. New data from Basketball Victoria’s 2025 facility guidelines shows:
• Victoria requires 220 additional courts immediately to meet current demand
• 22 new courts are needed every year until 2030 just to keep pace with participation growth
• 25% of scheduled games are already becoming manufactured byes due to insufficient court availability
The City of Greater Geelong’s Indoor Recreation Facilities Strategy (2022) also identifies a shortfall of 7 new courts specifically in the eastern district — which includes the Bellarine Peninsula.
ECONOMIC BENEFITS
BENEFITS FOR OUR REGION — The Business Case modelling shows this project would deliver significant economic and social benefits to the Bellarine Peninsula and Greater Geelong region.
The expanded facility would also enable BPBA to host major events that currently travel elsewhere — including Junior National Championships, Victorian Country Championships, and potentially NBL/WNBL games — bringing significant visitor spending to the region.
Source: Bellarine Sports Centre Expansion Business Case, Otium Planning Group / BPBA / City of Greater Geelong, November 2025.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
We are actively seeking State and Federal Government funding to make this project a reality. If you’d
like to show your support, the best thing you can do is reach out to your local representatives and let
them know this facility matters to you and your family.
You can also follow our progress and stay up to date on our social media pages: BPBA on Facebook and Bellarine Storm on Facebook.
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES
A brief email or phone call from community members makes a real difference. Below are the relevant contacts at local, state, and federal level:
