With Rockhampton today set to host the NRL fixture between the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and Wests Tigers, this week has seen attention focus on potential redevelopments at two sports grounds in the Central Queensland city with a population of 80,000.
Rockhampton's traditional home of rugby league, Browne Park, will not only host today's Round 23 NRL but will also be the venue for the Round 24 game between St George Illawarra Dragons and North Queensland Cowboys next Saturday - 28th August.
The CBD venue, located next to the Rockhampton Leagues Club, was last year announced as the recipient of $25 million in funding from the Queensland Government for a new grandstand 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 8,500-seat rectangular sports stadium with a grandstand seating up to 7,500 people at the city’s Victoria Park adjacent to the Rocky Sports Club.
However, studies have shown that the proposed Rocky Stadium is located on a flood prone site on the banks of the Fitzroy River.
This week, Rockhampton newspaper The Morning Bulletin reported on the Victoria Park proposal, quoting Federal MP for Capricornia Michelle Landry as saying the Rocky Stadium would be operational by early 2023.
It also quoted Australian Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce as saying the $23 million “funding will deliver a multi-purpose venue capable of hosting major events, as well as being a local community and sporting hub.”
By contrast, Queensland Rugby League 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.
Crow advised “the design brief is all but ready.
"The next step after that is to go to tender for a project manager and shortly after that a project architect.
"We're hoping that'll be in the next month or two."
Senator Pauline Hanson's funding announcement for Rocky Sports Club
Announcement of the Federal Government's $23 million funding for the Rocky Stadium was not made by a Federal Minister or local MP Landry but by One Nation Federal Senator Pauline Hanson.
In September last year, Senator Hanson presented a novelty cheque for $23 million from the 'Australian Federal Parliament' to the Rocky Sports Club.
In a Facebook post on Monday 14th September 2020, the One Nation leader said that she was pleased “to hand over a $23m cheque to build Rocky Stadium” and attributed the funding to a dinner she had with “the prime minister and finance minister last September”.
Guardian Australia later revealed that Senator Hanson had used the cheque to announce funds that are committed but yet to be delivered through the Federal Government’s Community Development Program.
While Queensland's major parties have jointly backed the redevelopment of Brisbane's Ballymore, it appears agreement on the the upgrading of a single venue in Rockhampton is some way off.
Common sense would suggest that the two sources of funding be pooled for a single development at an agreed site rather than the matter getting caught up with the ambitions of vote-chasing politicians.
Images: The concept for the new stand at Brown Park in Rockhampton (top, credit: The Browne Park Trust) and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson [left] poses with a $23 million novelty cheque for a new stadium in Rockhampton last September (below, courtesy of Pauline Hanson Please Explain/Facebook).
About the author
Nigel Benton
Co-founder/Publisher, Australasian Leisure Management
Born in the English county of Dorset, Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry and the www.ausleisure.com.au website - the go to news resource for industry leaders and professionals.
With a long-term commitment to communicating all that is best about the leisure industry (aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues) his career has been defined by an ability to develop and implement industry communications.
Starting his career working in heritage visitor attractions and then adventure travel in Africa and the Middle East, an interest in writing about his experiences led to his change of career into magazine journalism and publishing.
In addition to publishing, Nigel speaks on marketing communications at a range of industry events.
He was made a Life Member of the World Leisure and Recreation Association in 2006 and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (London).
In 2020, he launched the new Asian Leisure Business website.
As of October 2024, he was inducted into the Australian Fitness Awards Roll of Honour at the 2024 AUSactive National Awards.
Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.
His philosophy on life is to be kind to all and to indulge those that you love.
His passions include family, Newcastle United and motorcycles (especially British ones) as well, until February 2025 when she left us, caring a little pug named Stella.
Click here to connect with him via LinkedIn.
Read more from this author
Related Articles
20th August 2021 - New book explores the ‘Code Wars’ in Australia’s football market
20th August 2021 - Plans move forward for rectangular stadia in Cairns and Rockhampton
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
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
7th May 2021 - North Queensland Cowboys high-performance training centre officially opens
15th March 2021 - Stadiums Queensland chooses Aruba to deliver a Wi-Fi experience at the Queensland Country Bank Stadium
23rd April 2021 - Sunshine Coast Stadium stakeholders push for upgrade funding in Federal budget
14th January 2021 - Rockhampton Regional Council delivers reminder that Fitzroy River is known crocodile habitat
28th October 2020 - Queensland’s major parties back redevelopment of Brisbane’s Ballymore ground
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
8th July 2019 - New Rockhampton female facilities set to boost netball participation
18th April 2019 - Rockhampton Riverside park to receive smart upgrade
15th February 2020 - Report from Secretary to Prime Minister’s Department rejects Audit Office finding that sports grant program targeted marginal electorates
16th April 2019 - MP presents $1.5 million novelty cheque to sports club despite funds not being approved
8th July 2015 - Queensland Rugby League plans enhanced Maroons fan experience
18th June 2011 - Queensland rugby league club bans booze on sidelines
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.
