Victorian Nationals leader Peter Walsh announced on Thursday outside the school that if the Coalition was elected in November it would fund a twin-court arena.

“We’ll actually allocate $5 million to build a new stadium here on the site of the high school….so a new double-court stadium, gymnasium, change rooms, first aid rooms – for the school to use during school hours but more importantly for the public to use out of school hours,” Mr Walsh said.

The promise was hailed by school and basketball representatives watching on.

The high school’s parents and friends association president Ashlee Fitzpatrick, who is also a city councillor, said she hoped the Labor Victorian government would make a similar commitment.

Wangaratta Basketball president Ian Pople said another stadium to complement the existing centre at HP Barr Reserve would be a fillip for his sport which has 450 registered players in the city.

“Having a second court just means that we can offer more right across, from our beginners’ to representative programs,” he said.

The city’s annual three-day November junior basketball tournament, which attracts 122 teams, would be able to expand.

Matches played at Benalla now could be held in Wangaratta, giving a further economic boost to the Ovens River city, Mr Pople said.

The North East Bushrangers, who compete in the Big V league, may also play matches at the new stadium, which is defined as Stage 4 in a Wangaratta High School masterplan.  

Nationals member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy was also enthusiastic.

“It’s not one of those facilities that’ll sit idle when the school’s not using it, it will get used by the community,” he said.

“We’ll be able to attract more statewide programs and events here to Wangaratta as well and obviously the Barr Reserve which is full, absolutely full, can’t fit another basketballer in, this will expand their competition as well.” 

A timeframe for the construction of the stadium was not set out by the Nationals.