A sport with booming numbers on the Sunshine Coast is aiming to use the upcoming state election to secure government funding for a new playing surface.
Sunshine Coast Hockey Association (SCHA) has almost 1000 members who use the single artificial turf at Ballinger Park in Buderim for up to 14 hours a day on weekends during the winter season.
The governing bodies for the sport, Hockey Queensland and Hockey Australia, have launched a 2024 Queensland election brief, which details their strategy for investment in hockey infrastructure across the state.
The blueprint, designed with the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in mind, calls for action from all political parties and candidates in committing to the delivery of new facilities that will assist local talent development and provide a lasting Olympic legacy.
The cost of the second turf is estimated at $8 million.
It would be located to the south of the current field and include energy-efficient lighting, water-saving irrigation systems and new dugouts, toilets and fencing.
SCHA head of infrastructure projects Warren Flower said a new turf would help attract players to the sport.
“The greatest benefit will be that we will be able to expand our Hookin2Hockey program for under-8s and under-10s,” he said.
“At present we have to conduct this program on a Friday night, where we have up to 160-plus kids sharing the surface.
“This age bracket over the past couple of years has experienced very good growth and of course will provide our success in the future.”
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The election brief says the proposed second turf would increase the Sunshine Coast’s chances of attracting international teams for pre-Olympic training, generating revenue for the region through accommodation, transportation and other associated services.
It would also enable the Coast to stage state and national championships, which cannot currently be accommodated due to the requirement of having at least two turfs.
Junior state or national tournaments are estimated to generate $2.5 million in economic impact over the four or five days of competition, while men’s masters national titles could generate $12 million over two weeks from participants and their families.
“I believe that with second turf we could attract at least four countries to train here on the Coast for up to three months pre-Games – this would provide high revenue benefits to our region,” Mr Flower said.
“Another future tournament is the World Cup in 2030, I believe being conducted on Gold Coast. We would no doubt be able to attract countries for pre-tournament training.
“With the addition of second turf, we are all but guaranteed two to three Queensland state tournaments and a possible national championships.”
Hockey Australia CEO David Pryles said investing in sporting infrastructure had long-term benefits.
“Sports tourism, a rapidly growing sector, has a significant economic multiplier effect, with major national hockey events frequently delivering ROI (return on investment) over 20 to 1,” he said.
“By investing in hockey facilities across the state, we can deliver measurable benefits for communities long before 2032 arrives.”
Hockey Queensland CEO Alison Lyons said the Olympics was a golden opportunity to invest in the future of the sport.
“Brisbane 2032 is a once-in-a-generation opportunity and this brief is our roadmap for ensuring that opportunity is shared by all of Queensland, not just Brisbane,” she said.
“A Games for all Queenslanders demands investment in our regional centres and facility development throughout the state.
“Our vision is as much about community and grassroots engagement as it is about Olympic-level success. The legacy can and must start today.”
Mr Flower said SCHA has already completed the majority of design work and the project was “shovel-ready” once funded.
“If grants from governments were approved in the near future, we believe completion of turf could be by 2026,” he said.
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