100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

New $70m Ipswich stadium gains federal support as Coast stadium expansion remains in limbo

Do you have a news tip? Click here to send to our news team.

Search underway for independent to contest federal seat

A community group has ramped up its search for an independent candidate to run for federal parliament next year. Fairfax Matters is calling for expressions More

Photo of the day: aquatic paradise

“A great start to the day on Dunethin Lake – fish jumping, pelicans patrolling and Mount Ninderry keeping watch,” writes Alison Sayce. If you have a More

Leading imaging clinic expands with state-of-the-art facility

A leading medical imaging company has opened its newest state-of-the-art facility, marking a new era for radiology in the region. Sunshine Coast Radiology (SCR) has More

Ferry service starts with scenic spot added to route at 11th hour

The Sunshine Coast's first regular passenger ferry service launches today, with a fourth stop added to the route at late notice. The 52-passenger Mooloolaba Ferry More

Coast swelters amid ‘unusual’ heatwave

Parts of the Sunshine Coast are being walloped by hot conditions in a precursor to summer. Temperatures rose across the region on Wednesday, amid a More

Plans outlined for key active transport corridors

Details have been revealed for two proposed active transport routes that will connect education, retail and residential hubs. Locals can now have their say on More

Sunshine Coast Stadium expansion proponents are bewildered by the Federal Government’s decision to help fund a stadium at Ipswich, after rejecting a proposal at Bokarina.

The government committed $15 million towards a new $70 million, 10,000-seat venue at Springfield, which will essentially be home to the Brisbane Lions AFLW team.

But it is yet to chip in $20m towards a proposed $68m upgrade at Bokarina, which would enable another 10,000 seats at Sunshine Coast Stadium.

Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor with your name and suburb at Sunshine Coast News via: news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au

There was commitment for the rest of the funding, from State Government, Sunshine Coast Council and local philanthropists.

Sunshine Coast Falcons chairman Ashley Robinson was surprised Federal Government funding was being invested elsewhere instead of Kawana.

The proposed stadium expansion would cost about $68 million.

“We were asking for $20m to get something nearly straight away.”

“They (Federal Government) talk about shovel ready projects, to get people employed. This is (shovel ready).”

He said an expanded stadium could be home to elite teams.

“If you want to talk about women’s sport, we could have an NRLW team.”

“And it (the stadium) is not just for footy, it’s for community events. There are a lot of uses for that stadium.”

Philanthropists Rod Forrester and Roy Thompson have indicated they would withdraw their $11m contribution if the Federal Government did not come to the party, leaving a bigger shortfall.

Help keep independent and fair Sunshine Coast news coming by subscribing to our free daily news feed. All it requires is your name and email. See SUBSCRIBE at the top of this article.

Mr Robinson said the government had likely missed their chance to do the expansion on the cheap.

“If you look at all the other (proposed/approved) stadiums, are there any local community people chipping in $11m to the projects? The answer would be no.”

“This was a unique opportunity.

“The South-East Queensland Olympic bid (for 2032) seems deadly serious, so maybe the government will have to pay for it (an upgrade) down the track

“But they’ve just lost $11m by letting Rod and Roy out of their grip. They could have saved the taxpayers.”

He also said the Federal Government could be ignoring calls for a stadium upgrade because Fisher is traditionally seen as a safe Liberal-National electoral seat.

“I find it really disappointing that, as a conservative area, we get treated this way. We just get taken for granted,” Mr Robinson said.

“It just seems like we’re at the mercy of the government.”

Follow Sunshine Coast News on Facebook.

He said there could be a pushback from locals.

“Maybe they (Federal Government) will learn a lesson from what happened at Caloundra, where Labor (surprisingly) won the seat.”

Springfield, the site of the new AFL stadium, is in a Labor-held seat.

Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace recently said he would continue to fight for stadium expansion funding.

He said he was “100 per cent behind the project’’, but the government had deemed it more important to put $160m, be matched with equal State funding, towards the Mooloolah River Interchange replacement.

“I’m aiming to get this as an election commitment as it’s an important project for the Sunshine Coast. It (current stadium) is a joke considering the size of the region.’’

Subscribe to SCN’s free daily news email

Hidden
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
[scn_go_back_button] Return Home
Share