AusLeisure

Options for a new rectangular stadium in Cairns have been revealed while, with the city set to host NRL games from this weekend, plans for venue expansion in Rockhampton remain confused.

Long held plans for a new rectangular stadium in Cairns have this week seen three locations - Barlow Park, the Cairns Showground or a site next to the Cairns Convention Centre - flagged as potential locations.

As reported by The Cairns Post, Federal MP for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch has touted land owned by the Gasparin Group beside the Cairns Convention Centre as the site for a new stadium, with parking facilities to be shared with the Convention Centre and other locations around the city.

Another site is the Cairns Showground, although the Cairns Regional Council is reported to no be keen on relocating the Cairns Show, while developing the Barlow Park site would require finding a new home for athletics in the city.

Enterprise North Executive Manager Kevin Byrne is leading a group trying to drum up support for a stadium in Cairns and plans to launch a social media campaign in October.

Commenting on the need, Byrne stated “there is an undeniable fact staring at us and that is we are very poorly served with the absence of a suitable stadium for rectangular sports with the requisite capacity and facilities currently which sees the NRL not even programming NRL trial games here let alone premiership fixtures.

“Mackay were awarded two last weekend and Rockhampton and Bundaberg have prospered also as part of the NRL bubble in recent weeks.

“(And) there will be oodles of opportunities in the years ahead for rectangular sports.”

Enterprise North and the Northern Frontier Foundation have released a new plan on how to create a 20,000-seat rectangular stadium at Barlow Park in Cairns, as well as other major sporting and associated infrastructure including fields, courts, extensive parking and athletics tracks.

Such a venue has been estimated as having a budget in excess of $120 million.

In January this year, Australasian Leisure Management covered separate planes by AFL Cairns for ongoing upgrades to the city’s Cazalys Stadium.

Cairns’ major sporting venue is set to receive significant upgrades worth hundreds of thousands of

NRL in Rockhampton
As of this weekend, the NRL’s Queensland hub will see Rockhampton’s Browne Park host games from both Round 23 and Round 24 of the Telstra Premiership.

The Round 23 game between Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and Wests Tigers will be held on Saturday 21st August, with the Round 24 game between St George Illawarra Dragons and North Queensland Cowboys to be held on Saturday 28th August.

Rockhampton Region Mayor Tony Williams said history is being made with the hosting of the fixtures, stating “we are absolutely thrilled to be hosting Round 23 and Round 24 of the NRL premiership right here in Rockhampton, providing an incredible opportunity for our community to embrace the NRL in their own backyard

“The Round 20 match (which didn’t go ahead) was going to be the first time an NRL premiership game was played in Central Queensland, and we’re delighted to get a second chance at this claim.

“We know our community is hungry for a slice of the NRL pie - the Round 20 match sold out in minutes with 70% of ticket holders from within the Rockhampton Region.”

“Our ticketing platform has been bolstered with crowd handling technology to cater for the expected demand of the upcoming rounds.”

Two stadium upgrade programs for one city
The traditional home of rugby league in Rockhampton, the Queensland Government has committed $25 million to the redevelopment of the CBD venue, located next to the Rockhampton Leagues Club.

The funds will help deliver a new grandstand at the venue to boost its capacity to 10,000.

However, with the location of a new or upgraded Rockhampton stadium having been a talking point for years, prior to the last Queensland election, the Federal Government committed $23 million for the development of a new stadium with a grandstand seating up to 7,500 people at the city’s Victoria Park adjacent to the Rocky Sports Club.

However, the proposed Rocky Stadium is located on a flood prone site on the banks of the Fitzroy River.

As recently as this week, Rockhampton newspaper The Morning Bulletin was reporting on the Victoria Park proposal, quoting Federal MP for Capricornia Michelle Landry as saying the Rocky Stadium would be operational by early 2023.

By contrast, QRL Central Division Manager, Rob Crow, advised that the Browne Park development was running "full steam ahead" and he was working with Queensland Sport and Recreation to prepare for the first stage of construction.

While Queensland's major parties have jointly backed the redevelopment of Brisbane's Ballymore, it appears agreement on the upgrading of a single venue in Rockhampton is some way off.

Images: Enterprise North and the Northern Frontier Foundation’s concept for a 20,000-seat rectangular stadium at Barlow Park in Cairns (top, credit: Enterprise North) and the concept for the new stand at Brown Park in Rockhampton (below, credit: The Browne Park Trust).

Related Articles

7th August 2021 - Super Netball finals locked in for South East Queensland

2nd August 2021 - Extension of South East Queensland lockdown sees EKKA cancelled for second year

1st August 2021 - NRL sidesteps Greater Brisbane lockdown with five games in two days at Suncorp Stadium

31st July 2021 - AFL and NRL fixtures cancelled as snap lockdown introduced in South East Queensland

29th July 2021 - Ongoing Coronavirus challenges sees NRL delay plans for 17th team

28th July 2021 - Stadiums Queensland announces three new board members

18th July 2021 - Queensland grassroots sport and active recreation clubs to benefit from new funding program

12th July 2021 - NSW NRL clubs and Canberra Raiders to relocate to Queensland to counter NSW COVID-19 restrictions

10th July 2021 - Second relocation sees State of Origin finale moved to Gold Coast

11th June 2021 - NRL announces expansion of women’s competition to six teams

18th June 2021 - Stakeholders reveal plans for new major venues across Australia

1st June 2021 - Melbourne Coronavirus situation sees State of Origin opener relocated to Townsville

23rd April 2021 - Sunshine Coast Stadium stakeholders push for upgrade funding in Federal budget

25th February 2021 - Cairns Regional Council supports construction of new Griffiths Park grandstand

14th January 2021 - Rockhampton Regional Council delivers reminder that Fitzroy River is known crocodile habitat

4th January 2021 - AFL stakeholders advance stadium plans in Cairns and Darwin

28th October 2020 - Queensland’s major parties back redevelopment of Brisbane’s Ballymore ground

20th October 2020 - AFL’s Gabba Grand Final to be played in front of 30,000 fans

17th October 2020 - Darwin’s updated lighting project at Bagot Oval allows sport to be played in cooler evenings

24th September 2020 - Queensland Government commits $25 million for 10,000-seat stadium at Rockhampton’s home of rugby league

17th September 2020 - Federal Government provides $23 million for new Rockhampton Stadium

3rd August 2020 - Initial concepts revealed for Rockhampton’s proposed Motorsport Precinct

2nd August 2020 - Concerns over crowds’ failure to social distance during NRL clash at Sunshine Coast Stadium

13th February 2020 - National Audit Office advises 43% of successful Federal Government sports fund projects were ineligible

16th April 2019 - MP presents $1.5 million novelty cheque to sports club despite funds not being approved

18th April 2019 - Rockhampton Riverside park to receive smart upgrade

29th August 2018 - Queensland rugby sees increase in participation

31st August 2017 - Council approves funds for master plan for North Rockhampton Sporting Hub

8th July 2015 - Queensland Rugby League plans enhanced Maroons fan experience

1st February 2012 - Rockhampton aquatic centre set to open but second 50 metre pool plan scuppered

12th June 2010 - QRL Still Seeks to Halt to independent commission

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

Click here to view our subscription options.