Wyndham council has reiterated its ban on the South Sudanese Australian Summer Slam, following reports that the tournament will again be staged at Eagle Stadium.
The South Sudanese Australian National Basketball Association took to Facebook on February 9 to say that Wyndham council, Basketball Victoria, members of the South Sudanese community, Victoria Police and Eagle Stadium management (which is a subsidiary company of Wyndham council) were in support of the event returning to Wyndham.
The 2017 Summer Slam was linked to the trashing of a rented Airbnb house in Werribee on December 20, with four girls from Dandenong renting out the Attunga Grove property so they could attend the event.
“All the stakeholders that were on the tournament planning committee supported the hosting of the event at Eagle Stadium when the event gets rescheduled for Victoria,” the post read.
But Wyndham mayor Peter Maynard said the council had instead called on Summer Slam organisers to find a new venue for the event, a stance it has held since January 17.
“Events such as the South Sudanese Basketball tournament provide a fantastic opportunity for young people to contribute positively to the community through sport,” Cr Maynard said.
“Unfortunately the conduct of a minority, not necessarily from our city, resulted in council receiving a number of complaints from residents outlining safety concerns stemming from the tournament.
“In light of the complaints about the antisocial behaviour that occurred in areas surrounding the Stadium following the basketball tournament, a meeting was held with the operator of Eagle Stadium, Wyndham Council, Victoria Police, Basketball Victoria, tournament organisers and representatives from the South Sudanese community.
“At this meeting we outlined that it is council’s position that the tournament not be held at the venue in the future.
“This is a disappointing outcome as the event provides a positive experience for members of our South Sudanese community however the conduct of persons not necessarily connected with the tournament have prompted this response.”
