By Shelby Brooks
Following six years of consultation, Cardinia Shire Council will hand over control of the domestic basketball competition to a group of passionate volunteers.
The Pakenham District Basketball Association (PDBA) is “ready and able” to take over management of the Cardinia Life-based competition from April 2023 – the beginning of the winter season – councillor Jack Kowarzik said.
The PDBA has been working since May 2021 to establish a board with new members, meet a list of criteria and develop plans and policies.
“To their credit they have been proactive and co-operative with council,” Cr Kowarzik said.
“I and other councillors have been advocating for this for some time, but it had to be at the right time.
“The belief is organised sport should be run by associations who have a passion and experience in their field.”
Cr Kowarzik alluded to “challenges” which held progress back, but said he was pleased to see things had changed.
“Council, through Aligned Leisure, had a responsibility to manage the competition in the best interest of the community,” he said.
Councillor Collin Ross said as the competition moved from the Living Learning Centre to what is now Cardinia Life, management was handed to the shire as the competition grew and expanded.
“Come years down the track, we have more courts and it’s a bigger establishment. It sounds like they have a whole lot more people there who are confident and can actually run the event,” Cr Ross said.
