Community
14 April, 2025
Big slam dunk for youth
A SLAM dunk for community sport has been scored with the LNP committing $40,000 towards a Cairns Regional Council $200,000 new basketball court in the Piccone’s Village if elected next month.
A SLAM dunk for community sport has been scored with the LNP committing $40,000 towards a Cairns Regional Council $200,000 new basketball court in the Piccone’s Village if elected next month.
LNP candidate for Leichhardt Jeremy Neal has announced his backing of the project tabled by division 7 councillor Anna Middleton, who has been strongly advocating to build a new fenced basketball court in the empty grass lot of the Piccone’s Village to engage more youth in sport and offer more free recreation opportunities for the area’s residents.
Mr Neal has committed $40,000 towards the fencing of the basketball court while the council funds the remainder.
“When I was campaigning, I was very aware of how many families live in close proximity to Piccone’s Village and you realise there isn’t anywhere that’s really accessible for them to play sport,” said Cr Middleton.
“When I was elected, I went to (the) council offices straight away and we talked about the space because it’s an underutilised parkland.
“It’s in the centre of a vibrant commercial hub for this area and it’s very easy for all these families and anyone in the community to get to.
“And when you talk to the people from PCYC Safer Streets, after football, basketball is a sport that rates as being accessible and fun, so I brought on my good friend Cr Trevor Tim, and we’re using a discretionary fund. Since February I’ve been relentless to get someone to help fund the fencing.”
Mr Neal said this was a project worth investing because it would also address youth crime and cost of living.
“It’s a perfect spot, you’ve got Maytown Cl with heaps of units just here, Springfield Cr around the back, it’s full of units and there are heaps of young families and there are no backyards,” he said.
“And we’ve got the youth crime epidemic going on now, so it’s getting kids to do things and for as little as $5 you can get a basketball at Kmart and come down here and play.
“There’s paths for the kids to ride their bikes down, plenty of parking for mum and dad and I think it’s a great initiative from the council.”
Although concerns have been raised regarding the court becoming a space for youth crime and creating more insecurity in the area, Cr Middleton said there were more pros than cons.
“I’ve spoken to Queensland Police about that, and they like this venue because it’s very active, not tucked away in a park somewhere, there’s constant traffic and, because of the businesses, there is a lot of activity,” she said.
“So we’re going to make this beautiful for businesses so they benefit from families wanting to come here and there will be more things that we will build like benches, shelters, you’ll be able to grab a coffee and sit here while your children play.”
The council has already engaged a construction company to build the court and once the funds are in Cr Middleton said the court would be finalised by the end of the year.
