EXPRESS The
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Locally owned and proudly independent
Sports hub plans
By Ryan Groube
C
Our Vision
for
Mareeba
Transport infrastructure and improved sports and recreational facilities emerged as the key priorities of the local community at the Mareeba Community Priority Forum hosted by Member for Cook David Kempton. Pictured: Lenore Wyatt presents the priorities of her ‘brainstorming’ group. Photo by Peter Roy.
Lot 208 3146m2 $128,000
MORE INFORMATION ON PAGES 4 & 5
oncept plans for a $10 million sports stadium and precinct on the western side of Mareeba were finalised at a meeting at the Leagues Club on Monday. The proposed development, instigated by the Mareeba and Dimbulah Bendigo Community Bank, has been in the planning stage since October 2012. At Monday’s meeting, the Mareeba Sporting Precinct reference group made final adjustments to conceptual plans which will form the basis of a presentation to the Mareeba Shire Council (MSC) on May 7. The precinct would be located at Firth and Eales Park, adjacent to the Mareeba Leagues Club, and would include a multi-purpose indoor sports stadium complete with facilities for basketball, netball and futsal. There are also plans for outdoor netball courts and additional rugby league and touch football fields as well as a cricket oval. The reference group consists of Chris Lea (Mareeba Junior Rugby League Club), Di Pregl (Bendigo Community Bank), Nipper Brown (MSC councillor), John Thurlow (Mareeba Turf Club), Gordon Shelton (Mareeba Leagues Club), Silvano Ruggeri (Mareeba Basketball Association) and Connie Martens (Mareeba Netball Association). Originally, the group had looked at expanding on the existing precinct at the nearby Borzi Park but the area was deemed to be too heavily utilized to be expanded. Ms Pregl said if successful the project would “set up Mareeba’s sporting clubs up for the next 20 to 30 years.” “This came about when we (Bendigo Bank) found out both the basketball and netball clubs had a major court shortage,” she said. “Rather than attempt to get grants for the clubs individually we felt there was more of a chance if we could fund a facility that would bring as many of our sporting clubs together in one area.” Mareeba Netball Association (MNA) president Connie Martens said the MNA was formed in 2010 and has been operating out of the Mareeba State Primary School since its first season in 2011. “While we are forever grateful for the school for allowing us to make a start if we ever want to take the club to the next level we will need a proper facility,” Mrs Martens said. Mareeba Junior Rugby League is also in need of more space to accommodate its 10 junior sides while junior cricket are also looking at consolidating facilities at Firth Park. At the May 7 MSC meeting, the group will hope to secure in-principal support from council. If approved, the group will look at employing a contractor to do detailed design work on the project.
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