Peter Krenz Leisure Centre will reopen its stadium in Eaglehawk, Greater Bendigo, after a burst pipe forced the space to close in December.
The reopened stadium includes three dedicated pickleball courts, reconfigured basketball and netball courts, and a larger gym and functional training area.
The community is invited to mark the reopening on Saturday 30 May from 11am to 2pm, with official speeches at midday.
Bendigo Braves and Lady Braves basketballers will appear at the reopening event, with free-throw challenges, three-point shootouts, pickleball demonstrations, have-a-go sessions and family activities.
The stadium has been closed since December 2024, when a burst pipe caused significant damage to the flooring. YMCA Victoria, which manages Peter Krenz Leisure Centre on behalf of the City of Greater Bendigo, has used the rebuild to rethink how the space can be used by more people, more often.
The new layout allows pickleball, basketball, netball and functional training to operate at the same time, with a drop-down net separating the court space from the expanded training area.
The three pickleball courts will be available for hire by members and the general public, with Peter Krenz Leisure Centre also looking to work with local clubs and groups to host competitions, programs and events.
Interest in pickleball has continued to grow across Australia, including in regional communities where the sport has become popular with people looking for a social, accessible and lower-impact way to stay active.
Basketball and netball court bookings will be available for local sporting clubs, with casual community use available when courts are not booked.
The new functional training space increases the centre's Health Club area by almost two-thirds, creating more room for group fitness, small group training and personal training.
Y Victoria General Manager of Recreation Nadine Kemp said the redesigned stadium would give the community more ways to stay active under one roof.
When the stadium closed in December, we knew how much the space meant to local clubs, members and the wider community
"When the stadium closed in December, we knew how much the space meant to local clubs, members and the wider community,"
"Working with the City of Greater Bendigo, we saw an opportunity to bring the stadium back in a way that gives people more options and makes better use of the space.
"Pickleball, basketball, netball and functional training can now happen side by side. That means more people can use the stadium, more of the time.”
The reopening event will include basketball competitions with Bendigo Braves and Lady Braves players, pickleball demonstrations and games, functional training challenges, a BBQ, light refreshments, a bouncy castle and family activities.
The stadium will be open for regular use from the afternoon.