For so many young people in our community, the basketball court is where confidence is built, where lifelong friendships are formed, and where kids are kept active, focused and connected.

Today, it is heartbreaking to see the severe lack of indoor basketball facilities across our area.

Canterbury-Bankstown is one of the largest and fastest growing communities in Sydney, yet families, schools, local teams and youth programs are all competing for extremely limited court space. Existing venues such as Bruins Condell Park Basketball Stadium and Morris Iemma Indoor Sports Centre are constantly booked out weeks and months in advance. Nearby community centres are already at capacity, some fully booked until next year.

PCYC Bankstown only offers a half-court setup, which is not suitable for proper team training, full-court gameplay or competitive development. Young athletes deserve access to full indoor courts where they can properly learn, train and grow within the sport.

Because of this shortage, many teams are now forced to train outdoors in parks, on unsafe surfaces and in poor weather conditions. Basketball is an all-year-round sport, yet our community does not have the facilities needed to support the overwhelming demand.

This is no longer just an inconvenience - it is a major community issue.

Basketball is one of the fastest growing sports in Australia, particularly among young people from diverse backgrounds. The demand in Canterbury-Bankstown already exists. Every week, teams are turned away, children miss opportunities to participate, and families struggle to secure even one hour of court time.

Our community deserves better.

We urgently call on Canterbury-Bankstown Council to invest in:

• More indoor basketball courts across Bankstown, Greenacre, Yagoona and surrounding suburbs
• Upgrades to existing community centres and halls with proper basketball hoops and full-court facilities
• Long-term sporting infrastructure that supports local youth, schools and community teams
• Safe, accessible and affordable indoor sporting spaces for future generations

Investing in sport is investing in our young people. It strengthens mental health, physical wellbeing, community connection and youth engagement. It creates safer communities and gives children positive pathways to grow and succeed.

We are not asking for luxury - we are asking for the basic facilities our growing community desperately needs and fully deserves.

Please sign this petition and stand with us in calling for more indoor basketball courts and sporting facilities in Canterbury-Bankstown.

Together, we can give our kids the opportunities, spaces and future they deserve.