$45 million from Labor or $30 million from the Liberals: Whitehorse sporting hub a major battleground

The $100 million sporting project is still well short of its funding goal.

Author

Matthew Sims
April 14, 2025

A new sporting hub in Nunawading faces a funding shortfall of up to $35 million, despite the ALP and the Coalition each promising tens of millions of dollars towards the project if they are elected.

The new hub would be constructed at the site of the 55-year-old Nunawading Basketball Centre at East Burwood Reserve in Burwood East, which currently houses five courts.

A who's who of candidates in this year's federal election across Melbourne's eastern suburbs

Our guide to when the next federal election may be held, who you can vote for and what they hope to achieve if they are elected into power.

www.easternmelburnian.com.au/p/federal-election-candidates-2025-eastern-melbourne

According to Nunawading Basketball, 20,000 games a year are played there, and more than one million people visit each year. The centre is currently at capacity.

The $100 million would fund the construction of Nunawading Indoor Sports Centre to replace the aging facilities, and it would become a hub for indoor sports including netball, volleyball, badminton and adaptive sports for athletes with disabilities.

The centre would host regional tournaments and events and become a performance training hub for elite basketball athletes and teams.

Designs 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.

Liberals look to take back Aston with $7 million pledge to local projects

Aston has already become a key battleground for the Labor and Liberal parties, with more than $12 million being promised from both sides.

www.easternmelburnian.com.au/p/aston-funding-pledges-labor-liberal

Whitehorse Council has committed $35 million to the project. In recent days the ALP said it would kick in $45 million, and the Coalition said it would contribute $30 million.

If the ALP formed government the new development would face a shortfall of $20 million, and if the Coalition was elected, the council would require another $35 million.

Major developments such as these are often funded by all three tiers of government.

Chisholm MP Dr Carina Garland (ALP) said the funding would “go a long way towards upgrading this venue that has had no major works done in decades”.

Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister, Catherine King, said she “grew up around the corner from the centre” and that she knew “exactly how much this means to the local community”.

Chisholm Liberal candidate Dr Katie Allen (Liberal) said the new facility would be “modern, inclusive and purpose-built”.

Nunawading Basketball president, Robert Green, said the “funding commitment represents a strong endorsement of the long-standing efforts from our members, volunteers, local clubs and partners – and reflects the growing need for purpose-built infrastructure to meet expanding community participation”.