Work has started in earnest on a regional sport, recreation and community complex.
Field and oval earthworks and buried services works are being carried out at the Honey Farm Sport and Recreation Precinct.
The Meridan Plains venue is expected to be the Sunshine Coast’s home of football, with the Caloundra Football Club named as its first tenant.
But the precinct will cater for a range of sports.
It will feature fields and ovals for football and cricket, hard courts, a disc golf area, playgrounds, active youth and play spaces for biking and skate boarding, nature trails, wetlands, a dog park and community events spaces.
Sunshine Coast mayor Rosanna Natoli welcomed the start of earthworks at the venue, which is on the northern side of Caloundra Road opposite the Sunshine Coast Turf Club.
“We’re connecting and engaging with our communities to build a better future for everyone,” she said.
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“Sport and recreation facilities play such an important role in our local community and this one has been planned in conjunction with the people of the Sunshine Coast.”
Council acquired the land in 2011 and the precinct masterplan was endorsed in 2021, with funding predominantly from the Local Government Infrastructure Plan.
“The master plan provides for a highly functional, 75-hectare regional sports facility, a unique regional recreation park for all ages and abilities, and space for significant community events,” the mayor said.
Councillor Tim Burns said the precinct would encourage locals to be involved in sports, outdoor recreation, healthy living and community events.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity that has been shaped by our community to create a healthy and active precinct for our whole community to enjoy now and into the future,” he said.
The facility’s development will be staged in line with council’s 10 Year Capital Works Program, along with external funding opportunities sought from the Queensland and Australian governments.
Council’s previously approved budget allocation of $3.75 million provides funding to complete the early works. Stage 1 works will continue into next year and are estimated to cost about $20 million, funded through council’s Local Government Infrastructure Plan.
Initial earthworks, access roads and service connections are well underway and expected to be completed by April.
These works include: earthworks and preparation of sports fields subgrade; internal road network and carparking; construction of water bodies and wetlands; Energex site connection, internal water, sewer, stormwater and electrical reticulation; soccer field sports lighting installation to operational completion; pedestrian crossings, network pathways and verge works; preparation of maintenance precinct and sewage treatment plant; and stockpiling of excess site materials for future use.
Future stages would include construction of shared clubhouses, synthetic field, landscape works, effluent treatment system and remaining precinct activation works.
It’s hoped the precinct will be operational by 2026.
Sunshine Coast News asked the federal and state governments whether they would contribute to the project.
In response, the federal government encouraged the council to consider its eligibility to apply for funding through the Growing Regions Program and the regional Precincts and Partnerships Program. The state government has not made any commitment to the project, which is led by council.
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