NT Badminton appeals to property owners for interim accommodation

NT Badminton Association has issued a letter to Darwin and Palmerston real estate agents, builders and developers asking if they are aware of any warehouses that may be available and suitable for the sport to move into as a short term solution to their housing needs.

The sporting association has been passionately campaigning for a replacement venue since it received an eviction notice from the NT Government to vacate Sports House in Fannie Bay in May 2013.

Their tenancy has been extended to 31 March 2014, but beyond that the future is not looking good for the sport.

“Unfortunately the options to date have just not been suitable,” association member and player Dr Di Symonds said.

“We need a dedicated venue where our members can train regularly and uninterrupted. We outgrew school halls, where access is often interrupted, back in the late 1970s. To be told to go back to this is very frustrating and possibly marks the end of our sport in the NT.”

In light of their current tenancy uncertainty, NT Badminton Association seeks an interim accommodation solution with the following key elements:

·              a three year lease

·              located in Darwin, Winnellie, Berrimah or East Arm areas

 ·              warehouse with minimum floor area of 1,000 sqm
 ·              minimum ceiling height of 7 metres
 ·              internal or external male and female toilets
 ·              internal or external offices and storage room, minimum area 40 sqm
 ·              car parking

NT Badminton continues to discuss their accommodation needs with the Northern Territory Government and ideally would like to see a long term solution of a dedicated facility in Marrara similar to most other Territory sports.

“In the meantime, if someone has a spare shed we can use we would love to talk to you,” said Dr Symonds.

For more information visit www.saveoursport.org.au or follow NT Badminton on: www.facebook.com/SaveOurSportNT and twitter.com/SaveOurSportNT