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The Northern Territory Government is providing $100,000 to the Alice Springs Town Council to help upgrade the Alice Springs Basketball Stadium.

 

The Chief Minister Paul Henderson said the $100,000 will be used to repair the upstairs viewing area of the stadium.

 

“Basketball is a popular sport, it’s a growing sport and one that my Government is happy to support,” Mr Henderson said.

 

“There are more than 700 basketballers enrolled in the local Alice Springs competition – about 650 are juniors who regularly take to the courts.

 

“Ensuring our sporting facilities are top class is important in keeping our youth engaged in physical exercise and out of trouble.

 

“A youngster who feels they are part of a team and is happily playing basketball two or three times a week is less likely to be causing problems on the streets.

 

“We’d rather see our youngsters on a basketball court than in a magistrate’s court.”

 

The Sports Minister Karl Hampton said involving young people in sport does help tackle youth crime and anti-social behaviour.

 

“We have a no-nonsense Youth Action Plan in place in Alice Springs with a range of initiatives including establishing a Youth Hub and extra support for existing youth recreation services,” Mr Hampton said.

 

“Making sport a more attractive alternative by upgrading facilities complements the work already underway as part of the Youth Action Plan.”

 

The $100,000 funding follows a $20,000 grant from the Northern Territory Government to the Alice Springs Basketball Association to employ a full time development officer in Central Australia.

  

Media contacts: Chief Minister - Geoff Fraser 0407 360256

                               Minister Hampton - Natasha Fyles 0448 866312

Related files:
Henderson & Hampton 030709 Alice Basketball.pdf ( 685.17 kb )