Thursday, 24 September 2026

 Anthony CIANFLONE (Pascoe Vale) (18:58): (1864) My matter is for the Minister for Education, and the action I seek is for the minister to provide an update on the ongoing investments the Victorian Labor government has made to support all schools across Pascoe Vale, Coburg and Brunswick West since 2022 and to consider and support ongoing opportunities for new learning infrastructure, facilities and resources across my community.

I am particularly proud of the investments we have made since 2022 to improve learning facilities for students during school hours but also to open up school grounds for outside hours use – namely, for basketball via a $20 million upgrade for Newlands Primary School, including a new landmark basketball stadium being utilised by the Coburg Basketball Association and Darebin Basketball Association; an $18 million upgrade for Pascoe Vale Primary School, including a new world-class indoor gym that is being utilised daily outside hours by Pascoe Vale’s Panthers Basketball Club; our $6 million commitment towards building a new Bachar Houli Aspire academy of sport in Coburg, which will be home to a new indoor sports and basketball stadium, which the local basketball community will benefit from; and supporting and recognising the work of local basketball programs, including those of Mike Torres via his High School Basketball Network and Players First Basketball academy.

Basketball very much remains one of the fastest growing and burgeoning sports across Victoria and my community of Merri-bek and is one of the best examples of how we can work to upgrade and better share school facilities outside hours while supporting learning, health, wellbeing and active recreation outcomes. Basketball contributes approximately $800 million to the Victorian economy. For every $1 invested, it generates $7 in broader economic and social value.

The Coburg Basketball Association remains one of the biggest across the state, with over 5000 active members, 13 domestic clubs, 530 teams in weekly domestic competitions, 120 referees, 41 representative teams and 37 junior teams as well. Coburg basketball plays 260 weekly domestic games in 22 courts across 18 venues, many of which are in local schools. However, Coburg basketball’s long-time headquarters, the Coburg Basketball Stadium on Outlook Road in North Coburg, is very much aged, overcapacity and affected by various challenges, including general condition constraints, accessibility and compliance issues. That is why I support the Coburg Basketball Association’s vision to partner with Coburg High School to deliver stage 2 of the school’s master plan via a much-needed and long-overdue new indoor sports basketball stadium being constructed on the school’s grounds. It is a vision for four full-sized, compliant indoor basketball courts, change rooms, amenities, storage, car parking, a dedicated foyer, reception, admin facilities, canteen and kiosk facilities, flexible spectator and viewing spaces, a weights room and PE staff offices during school hours.

These new facilities will greatly benefit Coburg High’s growing need. They are in the heart of the central Coburg activity centre. Merri-bek council’s analysis found Coburg High to be the preferred site for such new facilities. Enrolments at Coburg High have grown from 265 in 2015 to over 1300 ‍students in 2026. The school is eligible for funding for a two-court stadium based on enrolment size according to the Victorian School Building Authority facility area schedule. However, given the demand, potential further investment from the state, federal and local governments would be welcome to grow Coburg High’s capacity and the Coburg Basketball Association’s capacity too. It would also complement the work we are doing at McDonald Reserve with the Brunswick Hockey Club and other sporting clubs. I welcome the minister’s response.