The words nearly slipped out of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s lips when he visited the Willetton Basketball Association last week, but the $5 million the club wants for upgrades will go wanting at least a little while longer.
Mr Turnbull visited the WBA on September 2 as part of a trip to WA to attend the Liberal Party state conference.
After speaking to a crowd and attempting to net a ball, Mr Turnbull nearly went along with Member for Tangney Ben Morton’s variation on “cheese” when posing for a group photo.
Mr Morton suggested the group say “$5.5 million” instead.
Momentarily forgetting himself in the fun, Mr Turnbull stopped himself just in time to have only said “five”, which seemed as close to a federal funding pledge as the WBA will get for now.
Mr Turnbull said Mr Morton had alerted Canberra about the WBA’s desire for upgrades, but the organisation was not alone in wanting funding.
“We’ll be looking at it very closely, more closely than ever,” he said.
“We’re dealing with scarce resources in terms of the federal budget.
“It’s competitive.”
The WBA is hoping to spend $11 million to upgrade its facilities, which would allow it to support a greater number of players and teams.
Its plan is for the Federal Government to fund half of the development, with State Government, the City of Canning and WBA fundraising making up the rest.
It was the first time a sitting Prime Minister had visited Tangney in more than 20 years and Mr Morton said he was hopeful there was positive news to come.
“The most important thing to me is the more than 150 kids who are on the waiting list who want to play team sport but can’t,” he said.
“Clubs like this are run by the community.
“One of the things that can’t be done as a club is sign off on an $11 million development project, and I think that’s one the government needs to assist and can assist with.”
Mr Turnbull’s visit to the stadium followed a visit by Federal Minister for Sport Greg Hunt in August, who also came at the request of Mr Morton.
The club boasts more than 3500 players in more than 400 teams, but there is a lengthy waiting list for juniors wanting to join.
WBA has already fundraised $800,000 for the development and the City of Canning has pledged financial support if the association secures state and federal funding.
The State Government is yet to commit to any funding for the club and when last asked, Minister for Sport and Recreation Mick Murray said the club could apply for up to $2 million through the Community Sport and Recreation Facilities Fund which are open until September 29.
