Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann today announced that a re-elected Albanese Labor Government will deliver a major upgrade of the Ipswich Basketball Stadium.

This $5 million election commitment goes towards the completion of a one-court extension at JBS Arena in Booval, increasing to five the total number of courts for club competition purposes.

This funding builds on a 2022 Labor election commitment of $2 million for the Ipswich Basketball Stadium, which is supporting much needed upgrades and preparatory works.

The Ipswich Basketball Association is one of the fastest growing clubs in Queensland with around 55 per cent growth in female participation and around 40 per cent growth in male membership.

The club currently has more than 170 teams and more than 2,360 players and members.

With just two full-size courts and two undersize courts, the current facility is struggling to meet demand given the huge and growing popularity of the sport in one of the fastest growing regions in the country.

The addition of an extra court will allow more young people and adults to train and play in Ipswich and allow this vital sporting and community hub to host more events in the future.

This investment is critical to the future of basketball in the region, helping to meet the increasing demand for court space for seniors and juniors, particularly in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Consistent with past practice, election commitments will be delivered in line with Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles. 

“This announcement is so important for the Ipswich community and builds on Federal Labor’s record of delivery for our region," Mr Neumann said.

“I have a long history of supporting Ipswich Basketball, having played at the stadium myself as a teenager and regularly attending Ipswich Force games in recent years.

“I was proud to deliver $2 million for upgrades to the Ipswich Basketball Stadium at the last election and I’m excited to build on that with this new $5 million investment in the game locally.

“I’m really excited to see the growth of basketball and the success of our local teams in Ipswich, and delivering an extra court at JBS Arena will mean more people can enjoy the sport in our local area.

“Only a re-elected Albanese Labor Government can be trusted to deliver the sporting infrastructure our fast-growing Ipswich community needs and deserves.”