Brisbane basketball stadium among Queensland sporting facilities to share in $75 million disaster funding

More than 200 Queensland disaster-affected sites are to share $75 million in joint state and federal recovery funding which will allow council sites and sporting clubs to be repaired, re-built and strengthened through the Community and Recreational Assets Recovery and Resilience Program and the Sport and Recreation Recovery Grant Program.

The $75 million in joint disaster recovery and resilience funding is in response to major Queensland flood and rain events since late 2021.

Queensland Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said $1.34 million in recovery funding would go to replacing two indoor courts at Brisbane Basketball’s Auchenflower Stadium.

“Courts one and two at Auchenflower Stadium were warped beyond repair after being inundated earlier this year by flooding,” Minister Hinchliffe said

“This funding will see two new timber courts laid by tradies to return the stadium to full playing capacity as soon as practical.

“Although the stadium has borrowed a drop-in court, 772 fewer games have been played at Auchenflower Stadium and that’s just one example among 200 venues hit hard by extreme weather.   

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt said the council sites and sporting clubs will be repaired, re-built and strengthened through the Community and Recreational Assets Recovery and Resilience Program and the Sport and Recreation Recovery Grant Program.

Both programs are funded under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Minister Watt notes “Sporting clubs are an integral part of many Queensland communities, and this $75 million in funding helps them re-establish operations and better cope with future severe weather events.

“These are the clubhouses, change rooms, playing fields and other important community assets that are fundamental to volunteers delivering sport and active recreation opportunities to their communities.

“I’m looking forward to seeing these funds distributed to those who need it most over the coming months, while creating jobs for local contractors whose work will directly support their communities.”

Other joint Federal – State disaster recovery projects include $2.9 million to rebuild the playing surface at Mitchelton Sports Club, $2.77 million for Tansey Polocrosse Complex at Gympie, $2 million for flood repairs at Gold Crest Cricket Club, $1.44 million in oval rehabilitation, new equipment and infrastructure repairs at the Hawks AFL Club at Taigum, $1.46 million in resilience work for netball at Tewantin, $2.2 million to get the Wynnum Wolves back in the game and repairs totalling $1.46 million at Carbrook Golf Club.

Expressions of Interest opened on 13th June 2022 and closed on 8th July, with all funded projects to be completed by 30th June 2024.

For more information: www.qld.gov.au/recreation/sports/funding/disaster-recovery

Image Credit: Brisbane Basketball