The City of Whittlesea's strategy for netball and basketball in Epping and across the city has been awarded by the leisure and parks sector.
The strategy was acknowledged with a recent Strategic Planning Award for the Tasmanian and Victorian region at this year's Parks and Leisure Australia Awards.
In addition, David Aldous Young Professional of the Year was awarded to Stephanie Ristevska, the city's coordinator of Leisure Planning.
In congratulating the team's success, Panel of Administrators Chair Lydia Wilson said their leadership demonstrated understanding, innovation and initiative. The award also highlighted the foresight that went into the basketball and netball strategy, as well as the way it was implemented.
She said such ability would ensure local residents had access to good infrastructure that provided equitable participation in the years ahead.
There were a number of important factors taken into account when developing the Netball and Basketball Strategy in Whittlesea, according to Wilson, such as in-depth facility audits, sports trends and conversations with the community's key stakeholders, including state and local sporting associations, clubs and community members.
Strategies such as this are often advertised via the council website and local flyer printing campaigns.
It is expected that an estimated 60 courts will be constructed by 2040 as a result of the strategy's implementation. Meanwhile, Whittlesea's regional award-winners will now compete in the national finals, which are expected to be announced in October.
