A sports centre in a popular hinterland town has received a multimillion-dollar upgrade that promises to keep people active and unite the community.
Palmwoods Warriors Football Club’s headquarters have received a makeover to improve access for all abilities, while the nearby Graeme Rae Oval has new LED lighting.
The $560,000 Warriors project was jointly funded through the state government’s South East Queensland Community Stimulus Program in association with Sunshine Coast Council and Sunshine Coast Churches Soccer Association.
“This modern, inclusive clubhouse includes refurbished change areas, canteen, meeting room and office, storage area and public amenities,” Division 5 Councillor Winston Johnston said.
“The extensive undercover viewing area is sure to be a crowd-pleaser and will provide a massive boost to the sporting clubs for the season and supports sun smart outcomes.
“Overall, it’s a win for the Palmwoods sports precinct, with a total of $2.7 million injected since 2021 when the adjacent Hinterland AFL and Palmwoods cricket clubhouse received a $1.5 million upgrade.”
The new lights are being installed to support cricket and AFL games played on Graeme Rae Oval.
The new 300-lux LED lights over the wicket and 200-lux outer field lighting will improve competition and training opportunities.
The $519,000 lighting project was jointly funded by the council and federal government through its Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.
Federal Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace said the upgrades at Graeme Rae Oval would light up the future for the Hinterland Blues and the Palmwoods Cricket Club.
“Whether it’s footy or cricket, juniors and seniors will now be able to train and play once the sun goes down,” Mr Wallace said.
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Deputy Mayor Rick Baberowski said the improvements were made possible by funding from all three tiers of government.
“More than a million dollars has been injected into improving the Warriors Football Club clubhouse and LED lighting to the Graeme Rae Oval – vital infrastructure to ensure that clubs can keep pace with the growing popularity of their sports,” Cr Baberowski said.
“Sporting clubs like the Warriors Football Club, Hinterland Blues AFL Club and Palmwoods Cricket Club engage with many thousands of participants and are vital to the social fabric of our communities.
“They collectively play an important role in enabling our youth to get active, develop a sense of belonging, while bringing our communities together.”
Member for Nicklin Rob Skelton said the state government was investing in the Sunshine Coast’s world-class lifestyle.
“We have a great community here and it’ll be made even better with the upgrades to the Palmwoods Warriors club. We’re hoping to see more local kids develop a love of sport right here,” he said.
“As we approach the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games it’s an exciting time for our kids to get involved in local sports, and hopefully some of them will bring home gold in nine years’ time.”
The works were delivered by council through several local contractors including Boydbuilt Constructions, who employed 70 local tradies throughout the construction works.
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