Replacement nears completion of flood damaged Mitchelton Football Club’s synthetic field

November 4, 2023

The synthetic playing surface of Mitchelton Football Club - located in inner west Brisbane – was destroyed with rubber underlay and sand ballast lifting and rippling in the February 2022 floods.

$2.97 million in recovery funding provided by Federal and State Governments under the joint Community Recreational Assets Recovery & Resilience Program (CRARRP) sees the new synthetic pitch at almost ready for play.

Brisbane City Council also contributed an additional $1.2 million to the club’s recovery.

Mitchelton Football Club President Rowan Hall shared “there’s no doubt we took an enormous hit when the flood waters swept through here last year, but the resilience of the members and supporters has shone through.

“Of course, the support from every level of government has been outstanding and we will not only get back on our feet to the level we were before the flood, we will have a much better facility for the community to enjoy.”

Installing the new synthetic pitch included gluing and pinning the surface to lock-in edges and seams to make the field more resilient to future extreme weather.

Club equipment was lost, and many of the playing fields needed rehabilitation after flooding from Kedron Brook.

The clubhouse roof has also been replaced.

Most repair and replacement work at Mitchelton Football Club is due for completion by kick-off for the 2024 football season.

In November 2022, funding for 198 sites across 20 local government areas was announced with 82 projects either under construction or completed, including repairs to the Pine Rivers Golf Club and Brisbane City Football Club facilities.

Queensland Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe noted “The flood damage has been heartbreaking for players, coaches, volunteers and club officials, so it’s terrific to see Mitchelton Football Club getting back on its feet.

“Work swung into action after the floods to get fields back online ahead of a wider program of repair and replacement.

“The focus of this recovery effort is building back better and ensuring club infrastructure like the synthetic playing field is more resilient to future extreme weather events.

“Mitchelton Football Club has been an important part of this community for more than a century and we’re keen see that continue for at least another 100 years.”

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