WNBL Southside Flyers to Square Off At a New Basketball Courts in Southbank

City of Melbourne’s Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece and Melbourne’s National Basketball League Southside Flyers captain Rebecca Cole and teammates Maddison Rocci and Dallas Loughridge, will lead Melbourne Square’s first community event at the new pop-up basketball courts designed to bring the local community together, providing recreational space for residents and the broader Southbank area.

The circa $3 billion Melbourne Square precinct located at 93–119 Kavanagh St, Southbank is introducing two new half-courts alongside two new four-square courts, all of which will be open for at least the next few years as the Melbourne Square development continues to take shape.

The courts will be open for public use from 9am to 6pm during winter and 9am to 8pm during summer.

OSK Property, the team behind Melbourne Square, decided to temporarily convert land for future development into a landscaped outdoor space, basketball courts and public amenity – in response to the local community, which identified a need for more local sports facilities during council meetings in late 2022. This has been made possible by the City of Melbourne partly funding the project.

The new courts are reflective of developer OSK Property and the City of Melbourne’s joint focus on contributing positively to the local Southbank community alongside Melbourne Square residents, who currently have access to leading amenities like private dining rooms, entertaining spaces, a cinema room, gyms, a yoga studio, pools, sauna and spa.

“ We’re very proud to be delivering this outdoor sports and recreation amenity to locals – we want Melbourne Square to be a member of the Southbank community, and for locals to enjoy access to the amazing outdoor spaces that our team has built, says Chong Boon Woon, CEO at OSK Property Australia.

The new courts are the perfect place for families and friends to come together after work or school and will add another string to Southbank’s bow. It’s a prime location for a number of different users.,

“ We have already seen a fantastic response to these basketball courts from both local residents and visitors to Melbourne Square.” said Woon.

Speaking to how Melbourne Square’s new basketball courts will benefit the wider community, Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece said, “This is a slam dunk for the Southbank community. We’re thrilled residents can once again shoot hoops in the heart of our most densely populated suburb.

“We want to thank OSK Property for coming to the table to deliver this important project with us – as well as the community groups who have advocated so passionately.”.

“While this is not a permanent solution, it will provide a vital recreation space while we progress plans to redevelop the Northern Undercroft.”

“I look forward to seeing everyone working up a sweat at the community open day later this month – and encourage all Southbank residents to come along and enjoy the fun.”

Since opening, Melbourne Square has already added a number of amenities to the Southbank area. Including the 3,745 sqm Kennedy Park, a full-line Woolworths, Nido Childcare, and a number of new retailers and hospitality operators. Most recently in June, Melbourne Square celebrated the official groundbreaking of BLVD, a 74-storey new residential tower built by Multiplex within the precinct

comprising 602 residences that is over 55% sold. Construction has now commenced, and the tower is to be completed in stages with final completion expected in early 2028.

Earlier this year the precinct also unveiled ‘Guardian Lion’ by Melbourne artist Troy Emery who was recently on exhibition at the NGV. The 15.4m (h) x 18.7m (w) vibrant artwork utilises laser cut aluminium with LED flex lighting to depict an intense spectrum of colour in the shape of the ‘Grampians big cat’ folklore figure. When installed later this year it will be highly visible from the Westgate Freeway and become an iconic addition to Melbourne’s public art works.

More information on Melbourne Square can be found at: https://melbournesquare.com.au/