OAKEY JUNIOR BEARS SIGN-ON

Although the season doesn’t start for another two months, the Oakey Junior Bears Rugby League have already kick started their year with a special sign on event held at the Trevor Mickleborough Oval on Friday.

ABOVE: Shane Lucht (right) with Junior Bears players Benji and Ben. A long term member of the club, Shane, can often be found behind the barbecue making sure the players and their families are well fed. ABOVE: NRL regional development officer, Mal Sweeney (centre, back row) with some of the Oakey Junior Bears players at the sign-on event last week including new club ambassador Leteena Medland. Mr Sweeney led the young people in a set of rugby league drills and exercises.

Oakey Junior Bears president Adam Altadonna said, as the first event for the 2022 season, the signon was a chance to gauge the amount of interest from local young people. “It’s been a good turn out,” he said. “With COVID affecting things last year we weren’t sure what the numbers would be, but I’m happy with it. “The season is definitely looking good already.” Mr Altadonna said the club invited NRL regional development officer Mal Sweeney to attend the sign on event. He said Mr Sweeney ran drills with the junior players and taught them a few rugby league basic skills. Mr Altadonna said it is still early in the sign on process and there is still plenty of time for families to get their names into the club. However, with some age groups already commencing training on Tuesday, he encouraged parents to get their paperwork in as soon as possible so the young

players can take part in the weekly training sessions. He said the club is planning another sign on event in the coming weeks if families were unavailable for the Friday session. For more information and to start the registration process go to www.playrugbyleague.com or call registrar Leanne Weedon on 0404 695 905 or president Adam Altadonna on 0437 506 979.

TRC backs Sports Precinct plan

Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) has fired the starting pistol on an ambitious plan to develop a regional sports precinct at Charlton.

Council endorsed the business case and master plan for the Toowoomba Region Sports Precinct (TRSP), paving the way for the project to proceed to the detailed design stage. The project is now seeking a Local Government Infrastructure Designation to pave the way for future development at the site. Council’s Chair of the Environment and Community Committee Cr James O’Shea said the new sports precinct, to be delivered in multiple stages over many years, would meet the growing demand for sport and recreation facilities and help attract state and national sporting events. “An analysis of sports facility demand has shown there is a definite shortage of facilities to service the Region, with many facilities at and beyond capacity,” Cr O’Shea said. “We also don’t have a regional standard facility that can attract higher levels of competition. The TRSP will change all that. “The precinct has been designed to provide a mix of high-quality indoor and outdoor fields, courts and facilities along with a district-level recreation park. “The TRSP, on a site at Charlton next to the Toowoomba Bypass and fronting the Toowoomba Connection Road, is ideally located to make the best use of regional transport connections. “The staged construction approach gives Council the flexibility to deliver individual stages in line with demand and available funding, independently of the other stages.” TRC Environment and Community Committee portfolio lead Cr Tim McMahon said the master plan provided for seven stages of precinct development over a 20year period. “The seven stages of precinct development are estimated to cost about $197 million and Council will be looking at opportunities for external funding,” he said. Council has approved funding for early works at the site which may include construction of an access road and provision of some utilities such as water. Stage one will involve construction of rectangular fields and supporting clubhouse and parking facilities and construction of an access road. “The Region is renowned for producing sporting greats in individual and team pursuits and the precinct will cater for potential champions and those who just love playing sport at all levels of ability and all ages,” Cr McMahon said. “The TRSP will help to promote a healthy and active lifestyle and play a critical role in attracting major sporting and cultural events that promote the social and economic wellbeing of the wider region.”

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