With the community football seasons now underway, AFL Queensland staff have been busy visiting club venues across Queensland and the Northern Rivers to assess the condition of their facilities and ovals as part of our annual Football Facilities Audit.
Several clubs have improved dramatically during the off-season. Palm Beach Currumbin was the biggest improver in the QAFL, having undertaken a $950,000 upgrade of Salk Oval to bring their player and umpire amenities in-line with modern expectations. Their State League facility now boasts dedicated recovery and medical rooms, a gym and large format change rooms with unisex amenities for players and umpires. A new club committee room, canteen and extra storage have been added to the complex, lifting the Salk Oval audit score by 15 points overall (69/100) to second-place overall within the QAFL.
The Western Magpies and Morningside also significantly improved their facilities. The Magpies’ Powenyenna Oval underwent a substantial turf program to improve the oval’s surface, while new goal posts, oval fencing and refurbished umpires rooms helped to improve Esplen Oval’s audit score.
AFL Queensland Infrastructure and Planning Manager, Jake Anson, was pleased with the improvements.
“It’s great to see our community clubs striving to improve their facilities and oval surfaces. Quality facilities are important to attract and retain footballers and volunteers and each QAFL club has at least one project underway to give them a home ground advantage,” said Anson.
Two more QAFL clubs are looking forward to major upgrades during 2015. Wilston Grange will soon break-ground on a $1.9 million upgrade of Hickey Park, which will include modern player and umpire rooms featuring unisex amenities and medical rooms. Player education spaces and a gym will feature at Hickey Park, which will also benefit from a resurfacing of the main oval.
UQ Red Lions are also set to improve their audit score, with the University of Queensland recently signing-off on the construction of a new State League facility at the St. Lucia campus. The new facility at riverside Oval #2 will provide the Red Lions with a clubhouse and better amenities that can cater for their rapid growth in men’s and women’s teams.
“The provision of female-friendly amenities and better quality umpires rooms is our key focus at existing club facilities,” Anson said.
“AFL Queensland actively funds facilities projects that address priorities outlined in the AFL Queensland Facilities Plan, and seven QAFL ovals have received funding support over the past two years.”
AFL Queensland is constantly working towards Football Facilities Audit results will be made available to each club across Queensland and Northern NSW.
If your club requires assistance please contact our Infrastructure and Sports Turf Team on (07) 3033 5409.
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