A successful and long-running local rugby league club is prepared to relocate to make way for an Olympics venue.
The Kawana Dolphins, who boasts several teams in junior and senior divisions, will move from their base at the northeastern end of the Kawana Sports Precinct at Bokarina.
The club will shift to accommodate the planned 6000-seat Sunshine Coast Indoor Sports Centre, which will be part of a new-look Sunshine Coast Sports Precinct.
The indoor centre will host Olympic basketball in 2032, with construction to start in 2025.
The venue will also host a variety of sports before, during and after the Games, including national league netball featuring the Sunshine Coast Lightning.
The Dolphins have called the parcel of land, which consists of a clubhouse and two fields, their home for more than 25 years.
They’ve unearthed NRL stars and won plenty of premierships.
Their A-grade men’s team has won four of the past 11 Sunshine Coast titles, while five of their nine junior teams won their grand finals last season.
Kawana Junior Rugby League president Anthony Chaytor said they were prepared to move for the greater good of the Games and the benefits it should bring to the region.
“From the get-go, we were understanding,” he said.
The Dolphins are poised to move to Meridan Fields, at Meridan Plains, about 4km to the south.
“Geographically, they are the closest fields and it’s at Kawana Forest, so we can still hold the Kawana name,” Mr Chaytor said, before adding that the time was right for them to move.
“We’re stoked because there is a lot of field space there (about 7.5ha).
“The biggest issue we have at our current facilities (about 2.5ha) is that we’ve outgrown them.
“If we go there (Meridan Fields), we should be able to secure a lease and play on six fields.”
He said there was minimal feedback from club members in regards to the move.
“It’s still pretty fresh on people’s minds,” he said.
“A couple of people have asked me about it but I thought there would be way more.”
A Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson said council and the Dolphins had been in talks for some time.
“Consultation started with committee members of both the junior and senior clubs in early 2021 when a new indoor sports centre at Kawana was proposed,” they said.
“Consultation continued in late 2022 and is ongoing.
“At this stage, it is likely that the Kawana Dolphins will be relocated to Meridan Fields, where they will have access to many more fields to accommodate an increasing number of players.”
It’s assumed the club’s current facilities will be demolished to make way for the indoor sports centre, although the spokesperson did not confirm that.
“Decisions in relation to the existing clubhouse and fields will be confirmed once design of the sports centre is finalised.”
Construction of the indoor sports centre will be part of an upgrade to the Sunshine Coast Stadium and Kawana Sports Precinct, which will also also boast an expanded 20,000-capacity Sunshine Coast Stadium.
Council has held talks with the precinct’s other tenants and user groups. Sports contested there include rugby union, football, touch, gridiron, soccer and cricket.
Some will continue to call the precinct home while others could relocate.
“Council has liaised with Kawana Sport Precinct tenants who may be impacted by a new indoor sports centre,” the council spokesperson said.
“Detailed planning work will be undertaken in collaboration with these tenants, and other stakeholders, to ensure that no current sporting club will be left without a home as a result of the new indoor sports centre. These conversations are ongoing.”
There should be ample space available for associations and clubs that do relocate.
“Council is making significant investment in outdoor sports infrastructure in the southern end of the region, including developing the Honey Farm Road Sports Precinct and several new facilities already developed, or planned for, in Caloundra South,” the spokesperson said.
“This positions the region well to ensure any impacted clubs will be suitably accommodated.”
The spokesperson said the new venue would be utilised by local groups.
“The world-class new indoor centre at Kawana will be enjoyed by the Sunshine Coast community before, during and long after the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” they said.
“It will benefit a range of groups and sports, including basketball, netball, volleyball, pickleball, futsal and badminton.
“Importantly, it will provide an opportunity to design and construct a facility that will be leading edge in respect to accessibility and service to the many para-sports and athletes we have in the region.”
Subscribe to our free daily news feed. Go to Subscribe at the top of this story and add your name and email. It’s that simple.
