The Ararat Basketball Association has almost completed work on one of the courts at Ararat’s Fitness Centre. The association was granted $192,000 by the Pick my Project Program earlier this year to carry out the upgrades.
Nevani and Sabaya Woods lay on the newly upgraded basketball court. PHOTO: Ararat Basketball Association
“We were in need of a new basketball court, nails were protruding, it could no longer be sanded to resurface it. It was just past its use-by date and it was becoming dangerous,” ABA President Casanda Woods said.
“The Pick my Project grant came in at just the right time.”
The upgrades have been widely appreciated by all members of the community, with both courts being put to good use as the new season started on Monday night.
“Ararat is very lucky to have these new courts. The upgrades will benefit the community on the safety side of things,” Woods said.
“At the same time, we are getting new backboards and a scoreboard so we will be ‘up with the times’.”
“The court is fit to play on but one more coat of lacquer is to go on, possibly in the school holidays, and the scoreboard hopefully to be installed next week – with the backboards still to come.”
The associations season was delayed by an extra two weeks due to the incorrect amount of timber being delivered and wintery weather slowing the process of drying the lacquer.
Woods said that she’s 90 per cent sure there will be no more interruptions, with the Ararat Rural City Council assisting in the management of works.