Kingston has officially been confirmed as the new home of the JackJumpers high performance centre, with the site to be situated adjacent to the Kingborough Sports Centre at 10 Kingston View Drive.
"Our community loves the JackJumpers and have warmly embraced them," Kingborough Mayor Paula Wriedt said.
"Locating the high performance centre near Kingston High School which has a focus on sports, health and wellbeing will enable further opportunities for our young basketball community.
"It also further enhances the Kingborough Sports Precinct as a leading hub for sport and recreation in the state.
"Council will continue to work with the JackJumpers and the State Government to help advance the project."
JackJumpers CEO Christine Finnegan said the JackJumpers were thrilled to announce the site for their high performance centre.
"This site will not only be the home of the entire club and the 23/24 NBL Trophy but it will provide a training facility that will match others in the competition and contribute greatly to our desire to be a destination club where we will give our all to continue to Defend the Island," Ms Finnegan said.
Minister for Sport and Events Nic Street said the new centre will transform the facilities at the Kingborough Sports Precinct into a broader recreational hub, not just for the local community but for the whole state.
"The Department of State Growth has now lodged a development application with Kingborough Council to commence the process," Minister Street said.
Whilst the announcement of the JackJumpers' new high performance centre has been exciting for many, there is community concern how the site will be disposed to State Government, whether through sale, lease or transfer.
Kingborough Mayor Paula Wriedt said at Council's most recent meeting on Monday, August 19 that only six community members raised objections to the disposal of land.
Kingborough Councillor Flora Fox reached out to the Kingborough Chronicle to consider the merits of leasing the land.
"Based on my experience as a Kingborough Councillor for 37 years, a well-drafted lease provides the desired community benefits and maintains control by Council," Cr Fox said.
"The key attributes of these leases include provision of Council land for community facilities while maintaining long term control of this land for changing circumstances, typically for 30 to 50 years.
"A good lease can allow for all eventualities, over a long period of time, and can be clear to all parties, including the community.
"A well-prepared lease provides more certainty to the community than the sale of land."
Council unanimously carried the motion to transfer the land to State Government at their August 5 meeting.
The transfer will not be official until there is a subdivision that has been registered through the Land Titles Office.