PUBLIC access to the $12.4 million new basketball stadium at the Wangaratta Sports and Aquatic Centre is still off limits. Rural City of Wangaratta advised that the required Occupancy Permit has been delayed due to the ongoing process of confirming that all fire safety requirements have been met. Council reported that this matter is only for the new works, with no impact to the existing WSAC facility. "This process is outside the control of the WSAC team and is necessary to ensure the building's safety and compliance," a spokesperson said. "Council continues to work closely with fire safety experts to ensure the facility meets safety standards. "Progress has been made towards completing this, but the time it will take remains unclear. "Further updates will be provided when more information is available. "We understand the facility's importance to sporting group’s activities and regret any inconvenience this delay may cause. "We’ll continue to work with stakeholders to complete this process as soon as possible and ensure a successful public opening." The only action the new court has had is when a pre-season match was played at the stadium between South Melbourne Phoenix and Brisbane Bullets, attracting a massive audience of more than 1000 people on August 29.
