The Lismore Basketball Stadium is now set to get much-needed upgrades, thanks to the recent funding injection from the Sport Infrastructure Recovery Fund.

The stadium floor was damaged during the 2022 floods and the Association has been able to use band-aid solutions to continue their competitions until the pleasing release of the successful grant application.

From the $55 million dollars allocated to the relief package, the stadium will see $344,510.00 will go towards improving the safety and resilience of the stadium’s infrastructure after the disastrous flood that impacted the region last year. 

Due to the extent of damage from the severe weather and flooding events, community sport asset owners have faced difficulties in absorbing the cost of infrastructure repair following these devastating natural disasters. 

These events coupled with the severe bushfire events and the isolation that the COVID-19 pandemic caused have heightened the need for community sport facilities to bring people together, provide support and help create a sense of belonging, identity, and community.

The $55m Sport Infrastructure Recovery Fund is a program under the NSW Government’s $207 million Community Local Infrastructure Recovery Package (CLIRP 2022). Essential Community Sport Assets Program (ECSAP) is a key recovery measure of the Sport Infrastructure Recovery Fund to help communities assess, repair, reconstruct and build flood resilience into sport facilities enabling normal activities to return sooner. 

As part of the ESCAP grant, part of this funding will assist in the subfloor works required before the floor can be replaced at Lismore Basketball Stadium, including improvements to drainage before the floor can be replaced.

Lismore City Council will also receive funding from the Sport Priority Needs Program (also part of the broader $207 million 2022 Community Local Infrastructure Recovery Program) of $236,853 to fund the installation of a blinding slab, prior to floor replacement.

Basketball NSW, CEO, Maria Nordstrom added that she is excited to see the support that is needed for the region in motion to complete the much-needed work to get the community back on its feet.

“The past several years have been tough for all our basketball members on the Far North Coast with floods and storms heavily impacting their access to safe facilities and playing sport,” said Nordstrom.

“With the Sport Infrastructure Recovery Fund, Lismore Basketball will finally be able to upgrade their much-needed infrastructure that was damaged as a result of the numerous natural disasters the town has faced.” 

“On behalf of the Lismore Basketball, I would like to extend my deepest thanks to the numerous volunteers who have spent a lot of time doing running repairs on the floor in order to continue their programs and competitions as well as ongoing meetings with engineers, builders, flooring specialists, council and other specialists to complete grant applications.”

Lismore Basketball Association Incorporated also recently updated its bathrooms thanks to the Stronger Country Communities Grant from the NSW Government with $180,180.00 being allocated to the project. This project was set out under the scope to enhance the female sporting facilities within the stadium to boost female participation in sport after consulting and engaging their local members. This project wouldn’t have been able to be completed without the many volunteers and LBA’s contribution of additional funds to ensure every aspect of the project could be completed. 

Since 2017, the Stronger Country Communities Fund (SCCF) has provided $660 million for more than 2,530 local projects that make regional communities even better places to call home. 

The improved safety and increased upgrades of the stadium means more people can access it and enjoy its facilities. This investment in sports infrastructure is a major part of building the growth of basketball across the state.