Townsville Stadium backers demand more Government funding

Backers of plans for a new stadium and entertainment centre in central Townsville to replace the current 1300Smiles Stadium are looking for pledges of Federal funding in the upcoming national election.

With the Queensland Government having pledged $100 million to the estimated $380 million project, Federal Opposition leader Bill Shorten last week reaffirmed the Labor Party’s $100 million commitment to the stadium.

Shorten also urgded Townsville voters to use the looming election to put pressure on both sides of politics to leverage funding for the new venue.

A recent survey in the Townsville Bulletin showed that building a new stadium and entertainment centre in the city's CBD was seen as the best way to kickstart the region’s economy.

Mindful that, even with $200 million of funding from Governments, there would be a $180 million shortfall, Townsville Enterprise Chief Executive Patricia O’Callaghan has called on the Queensland Government to commit more funding to the project and had no excuse to “continuously ignore the need for infrastructure in Townsville and North Queensland.”

O’Callaghan stated "there have been stadiums and sporting facilities continuously built in the southeast and we have a stadium that will reach the end of its economic life in the next four years.

“This is a project that’s been around for the best part of the decade, so we need to get on with the job.”

Townsville City Council has recently moved to compulsorily acquire the site for the planned development on land fronting the city's Ross Creek.

Image shows an artist's impression of the planned venue.

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