AS the election campaign nears the home stretch, ACT Liberal senator Zed Seselja has promised the Coalition will spend $200,000 for a much-needed upgrade at Tuggeranong’s Southern Cross Stadium, if re-elected.

Mr Seselja – who’s fighting to retain his ACT Senate seat – made the funding commitment yesterday (May 12) saying the ACT government had overlooked community basketball facilities in Canberra.

According to Mr Seselja, the five court stadium – used by 572 junior teams, 175 senior social teams as well as premier teams in the ACT – has not been refurbished since first opening in 1997.

“Community basketball facilities had been overlooked by the ACT Government for too long, and now the federal Liberal government is stepping up,” Mr Seselja said.

“With thousands of players and their parents out on the courts each weekend these upgrades will mean a better experience for the whole community.”

The upgrade would include a refurbishment of stadium floors, new backboards, scoreboard upgrades, repairs to the bathrooms and facilities, lighting upgrades, painting and some new mini stands.

In welcoming the announcement, Canberra Southern Cross Club CEO Ian Mackay said finding the funding needed for a stadium upgrade had been a challenge.

“Through covid it has been impossible to find the funds to keep the stadium to a standard our community can be proud of,” Mr Mackay said.

“This support will be a huge boost to the thousands of kids and adults that play in the stadium each week.”

Earlier this week Mr Seselja pledged a re-elected Morrison government would deliver $4.5 million towards Capital Football’s Home of Football project.