"Whitehorse has never seen the likes of anything like this": Burwood East basketball centre funding falls short by $30 million

Whitehorse Council is pushing to make the $110 redevelopment of the Nunanwading Indoor Sports Centre a reality, despite a current shortfall of about $30 million.

At its meeting on Tuesday June 10, Whitehorse Council passed a motion to endorse its advocacy positions towards funding requests it hopes to make to the State Government and the Opposition, ahead of the next election.

The next state election is expected to be held on November 28, 2026.

What is Whitehorse Council advocating for?

The main push from council would be towards the $110 million redevelopment of the Nunawading Indoor Sports Centre, with the motion confirming council’s in-principle support to commit up to $35 million to the project.

The commitment would be reliant on the Federal Government’s $45 million funding commitment and a commitment from the State Government of $25 million to $30 million.

Designs for the new hub at East Burwood Reserve in Burwood East show 10 multi-use courts, a two-court hall with 300 permanent and 1,000 retractable seats, a forecourt for social sporting play and 380 car parking spaces.

The motion also confirmed the council’s $2 million commitment to the installation of synthetic turf at the RHL Sparks Reserve in Box Hill, which would help deliver the project alongside a $3.925 million commitment from the Federal Government.

Other advocacy projects outlined included delivering the upgrade of the Box Hill Bus Interchange and funding a redevelopment of the carpark at the Laburnum train station.

Deputy mayor Prue Cutts said the council was grateful to the Federal Government’s commitments, especially the significant boost to the Nunawading Indoor Sports Centre project.

“Whitehorse has never seen the likes of anything like this,” she said.