Her call comes after Basketball Ballarat hosted men’s and women’s national league basketball practice matches this month but with clubs unable to bring an in-season match to town due to the city’s aging infrastructure.

The Ballarat Sports and Events Centre project is seeking $10 million to become a boutique indoor stadium with the multi-purpose facilities to host major events and sports tournaments. 

A third joint bid between the City of Ballarat and a Ballarat indoor sports alliance remains under consideration for the National Stronger Regions Fund. Third and final round applications were delayed by the July 2 federal election and time to brief new ministers.

Successful bids are likely to be announced early next month but Ms King said the wait had already gone too long, particularly for a project that would benefit the whole western region.

“Sadly, the Ballarat basketball community is not alone in being left out in the cold on stronger regions funding,” Ms King said. “Not one Ballarat project has been funded through stronger regions under the Abbott-Turnbull Governments. This neglect must end. It is time this Government started to treat Ballarat – one of the nation’s most significant and fastest growing regional cities – the region and the people who live here with respect.”

Basketball Ballarat is unable to tender for national level championships after governing body Basketball Australia deemed this city’s venues no longer up to standard for national events. 

Ms King and Labor pledged $5 million to the project during the federal election.