Federal Budget: fund Hobart’s basketball courts or leave kids benched
Published on 05 May 2026
The City of Hobart is calling on the Federal Government to commit funding in the upcoming 12 May Federal Budget to deliver the New Town Bay Community Basketball Facility, a critical piece of social infrastructure for Tasmania’s fastest‑growing sport.
The proposed $25 million project will deliver a state‑of‑the‑art, four‑court indoor basketball facility on City‑owned land at New Town Bay, providing much‑needed capacity for clubs, schools and community users across Greater Hobart.
The community benefits would be similar to the recently opened $62.5 million Northern Suburbs Community Recreation Hub in Launceston that was almost entirely funded by the State ($46.3 million) and Federal ($15.1 million) governments but at less than half the cost.
Acting Lord Mayor Dr Zelinda Sherlock said the project represents an urgent and strategic investment in community health, participation and inclusion.
“Basketball participation in Tasmania is booming, but our infrastructure has not kept pace,” Cr Sherlock said.
“Greater Hobart faces a serious shortage of indoor courts, and without action in this year’s Federal Budget, hundreds of young people and families will continue to miss out.”
Basketball is now one of Australia’s most popular team sports, with strong growth among women and girls. In Tasmania, participation is growing by around 10 per cent per year, yet facilities planning identifies a shortfall of 16 indoor courts in Greater Hobart alone.
Despite this growth, Hobart currently has no compliant indoor basketball facility available for community use. Local clubs and schools are forced to rely on private venues or travel out of area, limiting participation and player pathways.
Hobart Phoenix Basketball Association, Stewart Williamson said the lack of facilities was already constraining the sport at all levels.
“Our association supports more than a hundred teams each season, but we simply don’t have a permanent home,” he said.
“The recent closure of the Swisherr Hoops Academy in Hobart in April this year has acerbated this facility and court shortage.”
“The New Town Bay facility would be transformative – not just for competitive basketball, but for participation, social connection and giving kids a place to play close to home.”
Basketball Tasmania CEO Ben Smith said, “it is extraordinary that a sports club the size and scale of Hobart Phoenix could even imagine functioning without a home court, or clubrooms, and yet that’s what all the basketball clubs in Southern Tasmania and Launceston do.
“It’s time for that to change and this would be a great first step.”
The New Town Bay Community Basketball Facility is designed to address this gap, providing modern indoor courts, inclusive amenities, shared community access and a permanent home base for local basketball.
Importantly, the project is shovel‑ready, with concept design completed, planning work underway and strong co‑investment already secured, including a $12.5 million commitment from the Tasmanian Government.
The draft Greater Hobart Sport Infrastructure Strategy commissioned by the Greater Hobart Committee, has confirmed the need for the development of a 4-court indoor facility at New Town.
Independent Member for Elwick Bec Thomas MLC said the project deserved bipartisan support and federal backing.
“Here we have financial input from state and local government, strong community backing, and a clear evidence-based need,” Ms Thomas said.
“This is not a ‘nice-to-have’. It’s a must-have. I desperately hope the Federal Government will see the need and benefit and provide funding in this budget.
“Our young sports people deserve places to play. Our community clubs deserve certainty. And our growing population deserves access to the same sporting infrastructure being delivered elsewhere in the state.”
Beyond sport, the facility will deliver broader benefits for Hobart, including improved physical and mental wellbeing, stronger community cohesion, and local economic stimulus through construction and ongoing operation.
The City of Hobart has formally requested between $9 million and $12.5 million in federal funding to complete the funding package.
“This Budget is a clear opportunity for the Federal Government to partner with Tasmania and deliver lasting benefits for Hobart,” Cr Sherlock said.
“Failing to invest now risks leaving Tasmania further behind at a time when demand for basketball and indoor sport has never been higher.”
The City of Hobart is urging the Commonwealth to recognise the importance of the New Town Bay Community Basketball Facility in the 2026–27 Federal Budget and commit to funding infrastructure that supports participation, inclusion and lifelong engagement in sport.