The proposed basketball court has raised the concern of residents in Cleghorn Drive, who believe the site of the court could exacerbate existing traffic issues.

Cleghorn Avenue resident Tim Leary, who has lived in the area for eight years, raised concerns with The Examiner on Thursday.

He said he was concerned over the lack of consultation the school had done regarding the project but said he had received information in the school newsletter and a letterbox flyer.

A spokesperson for Riverside Primary School Association, who is jointly funding the project through fundraising with the school, said while community consultation was not necessary, it would be done to ensure a positive outcome.

“Further consultation is being undertaken before a final location for the court is decided on,” the spokesperson said.

“This is a co-funded project between the school and fundraising by the School Association – like other playground facilities on school grounds it hasn’t required wider community input.”

However, the association did do a letter drop in the streets surrounding the school, to advise them of new facilities, including the basketball court.

The spokesperson rejected the claims made by Mr Leary, that the development would impact traffic.

“The basketball court does not impinge on traffic. It is an under-utilised area of the school and will have a three-metre safety fence around it,” the spokesperson said.

The idea for the new court came from the students themselves, and the spokesperson said it would help address another issue the school had – access to non-grassed areas.

“The school community is fully aware of the need for an additional non-grassed area to cater for the number of children in long periods of wet weather when, like many schools in Tasmania, we are unable to access grassed areas,” the spokesperson said.

Mr Leary said the proposed site for the new basketball court was used previously as a bus turning circle and wished to see it returned to this use to alleviate traffic concerns, particularly during school pick up/drop off.

The committee spokesperson said two written concerns, one from Mr Leary, were written to the association in regards to potential traffic issues and the proposed development.

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