1st June 2026
Author: Maree DeGeorge
A groundbreaking rooftop basketball stadium officially opened in Melbourne’s east on Friday 29 May, sparking broader discussion around Victoria’s growing shortage of indoor sporting facilities as basketball participation continues to outpace infrastructure across the state.
The Summit was launched with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by key stakeholders from Basketball Victoria, Nunawading Basketball, Forest Hill Chase, local government representatives and members of the local community. The celebrations also featured a range of basketball activations and engagement opportunities, showcasing the venue’s potential as a future hub for sport, participation and connection.
The Summit is a new three-court competition-grade basketball facility built atop the Level 3 rooftop at Forest Hill Chase Shopping Centre, delivered through a cross-sector partnership between Nunawading Basketball, Basketball Victoria and Haben, manager of Forest Hill Chase on behalf of the centre’s co-owners Haben and JY Group.
Basketball Victoria says the project represents more than just a new venue, demonstrating how sport, private enterprise and community organisations can work together to create new opportunities for infrastructure development across metropolitan Melbourne.
With basketball now one of Victoria’s fastest-growing participation sports, associations across the state continue to face increasing pressure on court access, programming capacity and facility availability.
Basketball Victoria CEO Nick Honey said projects like The Summit highlight the urgent need for innovative infrastructure thinking.
“Victoria’s basketball community is growing rapidly, but infrastructure delivery is struggling to keep pace,” Mr Honey said.
“We need more courts, more access and new ways of thinking about how community sport infrastructure is delivered in growing urban areas.
“We can’t keep relying on traditional infrastructure delivery models alone.
“What makes The Summit so significant is that it demonstrates what can happen when sport, private enterprise and community organisations come together with a shared vision.
“This project is not just about basketball. It’s about creating healthier, more connected communities while helping provide a blueprint for how future infrastructure projects could be delivered across Victoria.”
Mr Honey said the project highlighted the growing importance of cross-sector collaboration in helping meet future infrastructure needs.
“In an election year, conversations around community sport infrastructure are critically important,” Honey said.
“Projects like this show how existing urban environments can be reimagined to deliver meaningful long-term outcomes for participation, health and wellbeing.”
Located within Forest Hill Chase Shopping Centre, The Summit is believed to be among the first facilities of its kind in Australia to integrate a tournament-grade basketball venue within a retail environment.
The venue will become home to Nunawading Basketball programs and the Nunawading Spectres, supporting increased grassroots participation, competitions, pathway programs and engagement opportunities throughout Melbourne’s east.
Nunawading Basketball CEO Mark Hallett said the additional courts would provide a major boost for one of Victoria’s fastest-growing basketball communities.
“The demand for basketball in Melbourne’s east continues to grow every year and additional court access is critical for our community,” Mr Hallett said.
“This facility creates more opportunities for young people and families to participate in sport, stay connected and continue developing through basketball pathways at every level of the game.”
Haben Managing Director Ben Finger said the project reflected a broader vision for how community spaces can evolve to support local needs.
“This project demonstrates how retail and community infrastructure can work together in a meaningful and impactful way,” Mr Finger said.
“We’re proud to support an initiative that responds directly to community need while helping strengthen local connection, participation and wellbeing through sport.”
Now officially open, The Summit will be showcased throughout the King’s Birthday long weekend as Nunawading Basketball hosts one of the country’s largest junior basketball tournaments, attracting thousands of players, families and visitors from across Victoria and interstate.
The tournament will provide an early opportunity to demonstrate the venue’s capacity to support large-scale sport while highlighting the important role facilities like The Summit can play in meeting growing participation demand and strengthening connection across local communities.
Basketball Victoria says the project represents more than just a new venue, demonstrating how sport, private enterprise and community organisations can work together to create new opportunities for infrastructure development across metropolitan Melbourne.
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For media enquiries please contact:
Maree DeGeorge
Basketball Victoria
0499 851 266
maree.degeorge@basketballvictoria.com.au
