FEDERAL Member for Blair Shayne Neumann has announced that a re-elected Albanese Labor Government will deliver a major upgrade to the Ipswich Basketball Stadium.
This $5 million election commitment will go towards the completion of a one-court extension at JBS Arena in Booval, bringing the total number of courts at the facility to five, catering to growing club competition needs.
The funding builds on a previous 2022 Labor election commitment of $2 million, which supported much-
needed upgrades and preparatory works at the Ipswich Basketball Stadium.
Mr Neumann highlighted the Ipswich Basketball Association’s impressive growth, noting the club’s status as one of the fastest growing in Queensland.
The association has seen a 55 per cent increase in female participation and a 40 per cent rise in male membership.
Currently, the club boasts over 170 teams and more than 2360 players and members. Despite this growth, the current facility with just two full-size courts and two undersize courts is struggling to meet demand.
With basketball’s popularity rapidly expanding in the region, the additional court will help accommodate the growing number of participants.
The addition of an extra court will allow more young people and adults to train and play in Ipswich and allow this vital sporting and community hub to host more events in the future.
This investment is critical to the future of basketball in the region, helping to meet the increasing demand for court space for seniors and juniors, particularly in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
In his announcement, Mr Neumann stressed the importance of the commitment to Ipswich’s growing community and its sporting infrastructure needs.
“This announcement is so important for the Ipswich community and builds on Federal Labor’s record of delivery for our region,” he said.
“I have a long history of supporting Ipswich Basketball, having played at the stadium myself as a teenager and regularly attending Ipswich Force games in recent years.
“I was proud to deliver two million dollars for upgrades to the Ipswich Basketball Stadium at the last election and I’m excited to build on that with this new $5 million investment in the game locally.
“I’m really excited to see the growth of basketball and the success of our local teams in Ipswich, and delivering an extra court at JBS Arena will mean more people can enjoy the sport in our local area.”
