NBL boss plans team for Tassie as early as 2020

NBL bid for DEC would require Government backing

THE boss of the National Basketball League wants a Tasmanian team as soon as next year, if the State Government agrees to back it.

As the Mercury reported yesterday, Larry Kestelman is negotiating with the Glenorchy City Council to buy the Derwent Entertainment Centre and Wilkinsons Point. It is understood he is also in talks with the State Government.

In a statement last night, Premier Will Hodgman said he was “actively engaged with many sporting codes to attract elite level content”.

THE viability of an NBL side in Tasmania will rely on league boss Larry Kestelman obtaining Government support should he successfully purchase the Derwent Entertainment Centre.

Mr Kestelman, who last met with the Glenorchy City Council on June 3, is understood to be deep in negotiations with the council to buy the DEC and Wilkinsons Point, which was approved for sale by council as a complete site in April.

Glenorchy Mayor Kristie Johnston confirmed to the Mercury last night that the council had received an unsolicited proposal to purchase the DEC and Wilkinsons Point from Mr Kestelman. She would not comment on the value of the offer.

The council will consider whether to enter into exclusive negotiations with Mr Kestelman at next week’s meeting.

The NBL owner is eager to set up a Tasmanian team in the competition, possibly as soon as 2020-21, but is almost certain to require Government backing to proceed. Alderman Johnston said Mr Kestelman was committed to working with Glenorchy City Council and the State Government to see what could be achieved at the prime waterfront site.

“If council does decide to deal exclusively with Mr Kestelman, we would bring any potential agreement back to council for further consideration at the end of that period,” she said.

“The report will be in closed council because it contains commercially sensitive information, but council is committed to being as transparent as possible throughout this process.” Ald Johnston said the council would not consider any offer that didn’t maintain public access to Wilkinsons Point foreshore and road access via Loyd Rd.

A spokesman for the NBL yesterday declined an interview request with Mr Kestelman, while Southern Huskies CEO Mike Sutton was also tight-lipped when contacted.

The Huskies attempted to purchase the DEC from the council last year through HydraPlay — a company owned by managing director Justin Hickey — but the council rejected an offer it described as “grossly inadequate”.

Premier Will Hodgman said: “The divestment of the Derwent Entertainment Centre is a matter for the Glenorchy City Council.

“However, the Government remains actively engaged with a number of basketball stakeholders on developing both elite pathways and grassroots for the game in Tasmania.”

He said the Government was “actively engaged” with many sporting codes to attract elite level content here.

In February last year the Liberals pledged $10 million to build a multisports indoor centre in Glenorchy, which would be used for basketball, netball, gymnastics, volleyball, futsal and martial arts.

It is not clear whether Mr Kestelman would seek this funding as part of his development vision at Wilkinsons Point, but he said on SEN sports radio in February that markets such as Tasmania “definitely need their biggest business involvement, which is government”.