Tweed Shire Council develops sport and recreation strategy

As part of Tweed Shire Council’s commitment to providing the community with opportunities to be more active and healthy, Council is partnering with the Better Cities Group to develop a new Sport and Active Recreation Strategy to guide investment and decision-making over the next 10 years.

Council manages more than 40 sports fields and centres across the Tweed, covering a range of sports including netball, basketball, tennis, hockey, AFL, rugby league, rugby union, football, cricket, swimming, skateboarding and croquet, while their beaches are home to very active surfing and surf lifesaving communities.

The strategy will be an important planning tool to direct future resource priorities, major projects and initiatives that support participation in community sport and active recreation.

Together with the Better Cities Group, Council has already begun engaging with the Tweed’s more than 80 sports clubs, hosting a special community conversation at Seagulls Club to seek their input.

Mayor of Tweed Shire Chris Cherry said sport and physical activity were intrinsic to the Tweed’s identity and noted “With the Olympics due to be hosted just across the border in Brisbane and the Gold Coast in 2032, these are indeed exciting times for the entire sporting community.

“Our latest community survey showed our residents really value an active lifestyle, including sport, and we are determined to provide the best opportunities and facilities we can moving forward. The outcomes of this strategy will detail where Council puts its attention for the community over the next decade.”

Mayor Cherry said it was important to note sport was built on the back of community volunteers, and Council was determined to support their efforts wherever possible adding “A survey of the Tweed’s sports clubs highlights the fact that 80% of the clubs in the Shire have no paid staff and 90% of the clubs are completely reliant on volunteers for their operations.

“Volunteering is a critical element of the sport and recreation ecosystem and I hope this comes through in the strategy’s development.”

Better Cities Group Director Dan Barr, whose organisation specialises in urban design and planning, said the strategy would be informed by an understanding of the changing demographics of the Tweed and would consider forecasted population growth.

“We all know what a great place the Tweed is – this is one of the reasons we are experiencing the population growth we are,” Barr said.

“This will increase demand for sports and recreation facilities. We are encouraging the community to think about what this means for our sports, our clubs and our facilities. This is an important part of making sure the strategy meets the needs of the community today and over the next decade.

“The strategy will also consider the lead up benefits to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and the legacy opportunities post-Games.”

Engagement is currently being undertaken directly with the clubs and associations to understand current context and future aspirations.

Wider community engagement will take place in April through pop-ups at community events and an online survey on Your Say Tweed. Feedback will inform the draft strategy which will be on public exhibition and open for comment in June.

A review has been undertaken of the Tweed’s sporting facilities and the strategy will also detail a plan for their continued maintenance and upgrade as required.

Image top: Council is developing a Sport and Recreation Strategy to guide decision-making and investment in the Tweed over the next decade;

Image centre: Panellists at the Sport and Recreation Strategy workshop at Seagulls Club included (from left) Tweed Academy of Sport founder, hockey player and parent Margie Coleman, World Champion skateboarder Chloe Covell and former Olympic volleyballer Anita Palm;

Image above:Representatives from sports clubs across the Tweed attended the Sports Strategy workshop at Seagulls Club, including from left: Ben Matthews (Cudgen Hornets JRL), Andrew Ryan (Tweed Coast Tigers AFL), Helen Rigney (Tweed Netball Association), Graeme McIlveen (Tweed Heads & Coolangatta Rowing Club), Susie Thomas (Casuarina Beach Rugby Club), Adam Housen (Tweed District Cricket Association) and Zac Hoade (Murwillumbah Basketball).