Stage 1 improvements at Rockhampton’s Browne Park set for mid-2025 completion

Australasian Leisure Management has learned that the delayed redevelopment of Rockhampton’s Browne Park is set for completion by mid-2025.

The Queensland Government recently advised that $54 million Stage 1 redevelopment of the rugby league ground, which has had a number of false starts since plans were first announced and funding committed four years ago, should be ready for the Central Queensland Capras to play their Hostplus Cup games at the venue during the 2025 season.

The Stage 1 works has seen the ageing 750-seat Jack Crow Stand torn down to make way for a new contemporary fit-for-purpose three-tier grandstand with 3,500 seats, four change rooms, public amenities, food and drink outlets, function spaces, broadcast facilities and offices.

Explaining the construction delay, Rob Crow from the Management of Browne Park said finalisation of the infrastructure designation had taken longer than anticipated, telling media “the many services involved in the design including civil engineering, structural, stormwater, food and beverage, acoustics, electrical, security, traffic, hydraulics, etc, to name a few, have at times required negotiation to abide by local and state government department standards in this $54.3 million project.

“It has been a long but thorough process which has led to the imminent announcement of the infrastructure designation, the awarding of the main contract and the commencement of demolition works.”

Crow added that the upgrades to the venue, which has served as Rockhampton's main rugby league ground for over 100 years, “will be a game changer for Rockhampton and Central Queensland and will include 170 jobs in the local community using local tradies and suppliers.

“There will be a resulting economic boost for our area during construction and further economic benefits for years to come upon completion of Stage 2 of the project.”

While the Queensland Government backed redevelopment of Browne Park advances, the current state of a second stadium development in the city - Rocky Stadium, to be built on the Brothers Club rugby league grounds at the Rocky Sports Club - backed by the former Federal LNP Government and One Nation Party leader Pauline Hanson is not known.

Image: The current concept for the redeveloped Browne Park.