A public basketball hoop in Melbourne's north has been saved by the innovative thinking of a council worker and two industrial design students.
The hoop in Coburg's Bush Reserve was removed after police and council received several complaints about the noise of late-night basketballers disrupting residents between 10pm and 2am.
"We want young people to have a good time, but to do it in a way that is a bit more respectful of those living nearby," Moreland City Council Mayor Mark Riley said.
"There are other sites where they can go that aren't so close to residents."
After verbal warnings were not enough to keep the late-night noise at bay the hoop was removed in July 2021.
Determined to find a way to reinstall the ring, a council worker investigated what existing technology was available to automatically remove the hoop at night and return it during daylight hours.
When he couldn't find any workable solutions on the market, he approached a number of Melbourne universities seeking a solution.
Taking up the challenge
Monash University industrial design students Marcell Aryananda and Jules Kabore were told about the brief and took up the design challenge.
After researching various possible solutions and the cost, the pair came up with a relatively simple and inexpensive design.
"It's essentially a pole that extends out at certain times in the middle of the hoop to stop the ball going through," Mr Kabore said.
"But it is also a social cue that we shouldn't be playing this late."
The pole is connected to a circuit board which is programmed to extend the pole at 10pm and retract it at 8am.
Mr Aryananda said it was powered by a battery and a solar panel.
"We have an internal clock to support that circuit board, so it knows what time it is," he said.
The device was installed in early April and has performed well so far.
All up the materials cost $1,200.
"I am relieved that it is working," Mr Aryananda said.
More devices to be rolled out
Mr Riley says it is a "win-win" for everybody.
"The local residents are really pleased with it, but the young ones kind of get it as well," he said.
Moreland City Council is keen to try out refined versions of the invention at two other sites within the municipality.
"I was really impressed by the students' thinking," Mr Riley said.
For Mr Aryananda and Mr Kabore, it was also a great opportunity to kickstart their careers.
"As young designers it's quite difficult to enter into the field," Mr Kabore said.
"The fact they were willing to help us in every regard and sponsor us through this has been great.
"We are not offered these opportunities very often."
