The local netball community is feeling ‘relieved’ that their 15-year fight for decent courts is finally getting some traction.
On Saturday afternoon, The Nationals WA got the ball rolling by announcing a landmark $40.4 million commitment to develop the Keirnan Park Recreation Precinct – Stage 1C, a project that will address the critical shortage of netball infrastructure in the rapidly growing Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale.
This transformative project is slated to feature 15 netball and multi-use courts, including undercover courts, a modern pavilion with changerooms, associated amenities, and lighting.
Saturday’s funding announcement was the first serious attention that SJ’s netballers have been shown during this election cycle, with both major WA parties instead splashing out on the netball and basketball mecca in Armadale, and Labor promising another new netball centre for the Peel Region.
To be fair to the state government, they have been rather generous in SJ over the past six years, committing over $50 million in land and funding for the Keirnan Park complex which is yet to break ground.
And Labor has also made a $10 million sporting commitment in the SJ Shire, but that was directed towards the Rec Centre upgrade.
Serpentine Jarrahdale Netball Association life member and past president Bill Denholm said he was torn between competing feelings of relief, disappointment, and hopefulness after Saturday’s big news.
“I’m relieved because after 15 years of meetings, feasibility studies, and clubs putting in their own money for this dream, there is now light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.
“It’s been a massive team effort, and finally The Nationals party has recognised our urgent need for a new home.”
He said despite council voting to make the new netball facilities one of the shire’s election advocacy priorities, there’s been too little too late from the shire, which has left him feeling disappointed.
“Netball WA have stated that we have the worst courts in the state,” Bill said.
“But it’s been our netball representatives who have met with three state political parties and two federal parties to ask for help.
“We’ve been the ones taking them on a tour of our facilities to show them the appalling state they’re in.
“We’ve almost been doing our own advocacy.”
The large sums of money being promised to fund netball facilities in Armadale, Willetton, and Mandurah has left the SJ community feeling overlooked.
But Bill said such a large commitment from The Nationals WA was a validating moment, and allowed him to feel a glimmer of hope.
“I’m hopeful that other political parties might now recognise the urgent need and support the children and families in the SJ community,” he said.
“Realistically, at state level, the parties have already made their pre-election commitments. We’re hoping the federal parties can help us out.”
Nationals WA candidate for Darling Range Morgan Byas was proud to make Saturday’s $40 million promise, after jumping through lots of hoops with his party’s bean counters.
“This project has a big sticker price, and obviously we want to be a fiscally responsible party,” he said.
“But this has been a long time coming; the local sporting community has been passionately advocating for 15 years.
“And we’re so close to making that dream a reality and giving netball a modern home.
“This isn’t just about building courts – this is about building stronger, healthier, and more connected communities.”
But there are some obvious caveats that come with this $40 million pledge.
Morgan Byas needs to topple Darling Range incumbent Hugh Jones.
The Opposition also has to perform the Herculean feat of clawing itself back from the largest political defeat in Australia’s history.
The usually cautious election analyst Antony Green has already pretty much called the March 8 election for Labor, saying it’s hard to treat is as anything but a ‘foregone conclusion’.
And even if the Opposition achieved the seemingly impossible, The Nationals WA would have to enter into negotiations with its coalition partner to honour its funding promises, when the WA Liberals have already promised $20 million for Armadale.
“We will cross that bridge when we come to it,” Mr Byas said.
“But the community can rest assured I’m going in to those rooms fighting to make sure we get this project delivered.”
