Community grant will help prevent crime at Murray Bridge’s basketball stadium
Murray Bridge Basketball Association, located at the city's showground, is one step closer to having a safe venue.
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Murray Bridge Basketball Association is still a way away from having the modern venue it wants, but a council community grant of almost $4000 will at least help its members feel safe.
In its April community grants round, the Murray Bridge council approved the money, which will cover about half the cost of installing eight CCTV cameras around the basketball courts at the city’s showground.
Cameras will be installed in the clubroom, on each court, in the main entrance corridor, at the outside entrance and at the outside carpark.
Outgoing MBBA president James Vowles said that the CCTVs were required due to security issues.
“There’s been concerns about individuals walking around and coming in the stadium, so definitely for that – for our members’ safety and our children’s safety,” he said.
“We’ve had gas bottles tampered with out here and the gate was broken, so we had people trying to get in, which is the big kicker.”
New president Shirley Hartman added that they also wanted to protect people outside the club.
“The courts get hired out for practices, and we really want to monitor who’s coming through the doors and if it’s the right people coming in for training as well,” she said.
Both agreed that the technology would not only protect members, but also save the time of people who helped out at the club.
“Part of the goal is to have 24-seven access remotely, without anyone having to be here – without a stadium manager having to drive out or be physically present,” Mr Vowles said.
“Our other grant application we’ve got in at present is a wireless lock on the front door, so we can send a code and members can get in remotely; it’s really future-proofing the stadium.
“They’re all steps to reduce the amount of volunteer hours or paid hours that we have to account for.”
MBBA strategic development officer Matt Mundy confirmed that accessibility was all-important for the club.
“We have 12-year-olds playing here at 9.30 at night, so we need to make sure that it’s as accessible as possible for the members and the community, but we don’t want to add costs,” he said.
“We can use technology to make it more accessible, so we’re grateful to the council for this grant.”
- More information: Search for Murray Bridge Basketball Association on Facebook.
Some other community grant recipients for April 2023:
- Burdett Hall: $3100 for front boundary fencing
- Habitat for Humanity: $15,000 for Youth360 – Housing for Youth at Risk
- LifeHouse International: $5000 for a reliable live streaming service and associated equipment
- Lions Club of Murray Bridge: $664 for a laptop upgrade
- Monteith Public Hall: $921 for repairs to hall walls
- Murray Bridge Blue Light: $1450 for Blue Light Boxing Fitness, a project to target the fitness and security of vulnerable youth in the community
- Murray Bridge Community Centre: $3428 for replacing unsafe old fans and installing air conditioning in rooms without it
- Murray Bridge Community Concert Band: $2017 for the Murray Bridge Band Festival and anniversary concerts
- Murray Bridge Dart Club: $5000 for the Anzac Open Darts Competition
- Murray Bridge Rifle Club: $5000 for a road upgrade on a road that services several groups
- Operation Flinders Foundation: $3877 for 10 Murray Bridge students to attend an adventure therapy program that addresses disengagement and dysfunction in young people
- Rotary Golf Day: $1200 for a golf day that raises awareness for research into mental health
- Rotary Club of Mobilong: $5000 for an unsafe mobile catering van to be upgraded to a second-hand caravan
- Soroptimist International Murray Bridge: $5000 for a children’s science show for all year 3 students in the area
- Teen Challenge SA: $5000 for Teen Challenge Emergency Relief, so that community members can receive food, build relationships and receive other support
- Unity College: $5000 for motorised blinds for windows in the community stadium
- Wellington Progress Association: $5000 for a new lawnmower
