Time may just be running out to do something about the state of our beloved entertainment centre. This year we celebrated a significant milestone for the centre.

What should not be celebrated is the lack of significant upgrade of the entertainment centre in particular over that time. The people of the Illawarra support the centre and its events unequivocally.

Yet those who attend regular events such as the Hawks games can attest the venue is tired, in need of more than urgent repairs and now subject to a national embarrassment.

To see a National Basketball League game forced to play an entire quarter without a shot clock is more than just a bad situation.

For a club like the Hawks, a foundation club in the NBL which has to fight for every inch of survival, it’s a bitter blow. They pay handsomely for the privilege of using the WEC and should expect better.

Venes NSW is currently overseeing an in-depth review for a potential complete redevelopment of the facility and precinct. Can we as a community and paying patrons afford to wait that long? Can the Hawks?

It was wonderful to see the NSW Premier, we can’t remember her name, on the South Coast this week handing out money for community infrastructure upgrades and then making a token appearance at a Shellharbour shopping centre to kiss babies.

All with the Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra Gareth Ward in tow. We won’t waste our breath pretending this current NSW Government has any feasible idea or ability of resolving this matter given their track record on stadiums.

This community, however, must demand action from our council and our elected government representatives to fix this and fix it now. Long-term visions are great, but they are no damn good if the thing underpinning dies while we wait.

The shot clock failure on Thursday night was symptomatic of the bigger issue. Time is running out.

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