Federal Funding for Aspire Sports Centre
COX warmly congratulates the Bachar Houli Foundation on successfully securing federal funding for the Aspire Sports Centre (ASC).
Announced on Wednesday 5 March by the Hon Clare O’Neil MP alongside the Hon Julian Hill MP, the Hon Peter Khalil MP and Cathy Henderson, CEO of Merri-Bek City, the $15M grant will help deliver a new sports centre of excellence in the Melbourne inner suburb of Coburg. Further funding is being secured from the Foundation’s own resources, partners and philanthropic supporters for the $25M project.
Bachar Houli, founder, Bachar Houli Foundation
The ASC will be a welcoming, safe and supportive space. It will be an inclusive, thriving, active and culturally diverse place where Muslim and non-Muslim communities can connect through sport.
[Above: The federal funding announcement on 5 March attended by Stuart Harper and John Hayball from COX; L-R: Hon Clare O’Neil MP, Hon Julian Hill MP, Bachar Houli OAM and the Hon Peter Khalil MP]
The ASC, which will serve as the main base for Bachar Houli Foundation programs and the home for the Islamic College of Sport, will be built at the Coburg Moreland Bowls Club, pending Council approval.
Providing high performance sports training, education and learning, the ASC aims to enable young Islamic people across Melbourne, local sports groups and women the opportunity to connect, compete and thrive in an environment designed to empower and inspire.
The ASC will provide an educational pathway for students at the Islamic College of Sport, offering a holistic approach to academic and athletic development. Through this partnership, the Foundation is empowering young people to become future leaders in sport, education, and their communities.
The centre will also maximise opportunities for year-round use, sharing facilities between the College and local community in an area experiencing a shortage of indoor recreation spaces. Outside of school hours, it will include a focus on enabling women and girls’ participation by providing a culturally safe and welcoming space.
The main building is designed as a multi-level learning hub with a double-height multipurpose sports hall and the school’s admin and arrival areas at ground level. 12 new classrooms, student breakout, meeting, amenity, and staff workspaces connect to the sports hall while a high-performance gym and indoor sports hall will support training and skill development programs.
Following this fantastic funding news, the team is expecting the detailed design phase of the project to commence in coming months.
Learn more about the Bachar Houli Foundation: https://bacharhoulifoundation.com.au/