‘We constructed a legacy right here’: Sports activities set to lose their Kallang properties hope SportSG reconsiders plans

NETBALL SET TO MOVE TO TOA PAYOH

If the plans go forward, the Kallang Netball Centre at Stadium Boulevard will quickly be a factor of the previous.

The centre homes six out of doors courts and has been the primary venue for a lot of leisure netball occasions and league matches all through the years. 

Netball Singapore stated it’s making a last-ditch effort in its combat to stay in Kallang, the center of Singapore’s sport scene.

“We’d have beloved to be a part of the general plans, similar to soccer and all the opposite sports activities,” stated Ms Jessica Tan, the president of Netball Singapore.

“We’ve got recollections right here. We’ve got constructed a legacy right here.”  

Ms Tan stated Netball Singapore is working with authorities company Sport Singapore (SportSG) in its bid to remain, however plans have already been drawn out for a brand new location.

“To be honest to SportSG, they’ve heard us. We hope that they may rethink their plans. However on the identical time, they’ve included us when it comes to what the plans are almost about the brand new location,” she stated.

Netball Singapore might relocate to Toa Payoh subsequent yr. Six courts, together with indoor ones, might be constructed there.

NO NEW HOME FOR SQUASH

The Kallang Squash Centre has been at its present location within the Singapore Sports activities Hub for the previous 50 years.

It was scheduled to be demolished by the tip of this yr to make method for the brand new plans. Nevertheless, that deadline has been pushed again because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Squash Singapore stated it has not discovered a brand new area to relocate to, and is constant its efforts to be a part of Kallang Alive.

“We’re interesting to the federal government to contemplate what we now have been doing the final two years and whether or not it justifies giving us an alternate location – a alternative centre of the Kallang Squash Centre,” stated Mr Patrick Thio, president of Singapore Squash.

“We hope that with all our actions over the past two years, the federal government will realise that we’re making a number of effort, fulfilling a number of the KPIs (key efficiency indicators) that I imagine is their customary for us.”

After its seven courts in Kallang are torn down, there will likely be lower than 20 public squash courts in Singapore.

Mr Thio has submitted blueprints for a S$20 million revamp of the present centre to SportSG, which is able to increase the centre’s capability to a world-class facility inside a small area of 45 by 45 sq m spanning throughout three flooring.

He stated it will rejuvenate and profit each the native and worldwide squash scene.

“The worldwide neighborhood is conscious of Kallang. They’ve come earlier than to coach or to play they usually bear in mind Kallang Squash Centre fondly. So it is not simply the local people that may profit,” he stated.

Nevertheless, Mr Thio stated he has but to obtain a response from SportSG or the Ministry of Tradition, Group and Youth.

SPORTSG CITES OPTIMAL LAND USE

Other than netball and squash, the destiny of the neighbouring Kallang Garden Bowl can also be unknown, though its rinks have not too long ago been re-turfed. 

Presently, there are 19 sports activities associations within the Kallang space, together with biking, ice skating and archery.

The Kallang Alive undertaking, first introduced in 2019, will see sporting developments within the space across the Sports activities Hub. They are going to be developed, owned and operated by SportSG.