Turf is being laid on the first four fields at a new Sunshine Coast sport and recreation complex, ahead of their planned opening for the 2027 season.
The fields are being prioritised as part of the 75ha Honey Farm Sport and Recreation Precinct at Meridan Plains, an estimated $100 million development that will eventually include eight soccer fields, two cricket ovals, hardcourts, playgrounds, trails, a dog park and other recreation facilities.
Sunshine Coast mayor Rosanna Natoli said the milestone marked a significant step in delivering one of the region’s largest and most exciting community projects.
“This is more than just grass: it’s a symbol of progress and a sign that the Honey Farm precinct is taking shape,” she said.
“From football (soccer) fields to nature trails, this precinct has been designed with, and for our community, and it’s wonderful to see it growing before our eyes.”
Federal Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Senator Anthony Chisholm, joined the mayor and councillors at the site on Tuesday to mark the occasion.
“The Honey Farm Sport and Recreation Precinct is the kind of project our government is proud to get behind,” he said.
“It’s exciting for families, schools, local sporting clubs, and the Sunshine Coast community as a whole.”
Councillor Tim Burns said the community had plenty to look forward to as the precinct continued to take shape.
“People ask me all the time what’s happening next at Honey Farm, and seeing the turf go down is a significant milestone,” he said.
“This project has been years in the making, and it’s exciting to know we’re one step closer to local clubs and families getting out onto the fields and making the most of this fantastic precinct.”
Federal Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace said the precinct would be an asset for families, clubs and athletes, providing more opportunities to get active and stay healthy.
“It’s terrific to see the first fields taking shape, and I congratulate mayor Rosanna Natoli, councillor Tim Burns and Sunshine Coast Council on their continued work to bring this long-awaited project to life,” he said.
“I look forward to seeing local kids and sporting clubs running onto these fields for the first time in 2027.”
Eight soccer fields form part of Stage 1 works, which also include earthworks, roads and carparks, pathways, service connections, wetlands construction, sports field lighting installation, clubhouse buildings, public amenities, grounds maintenance precinct and supporting infrastructure, some of which is complete or underway.
The council has prioritised completion of the first four fields to enable soccer activation for the start of the 2027 season. The remaining three soccer fields and the synthetic pitch are scheduled for 2027, with cricket oval activation planned for 2028.
The project received $13.6m from the Australian Government’s Growing Regions Program in January, contributing to the estimated $100 million master-planned development.
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The site was purchased in 2011 to provide long term sport and recreation facilities to serve the entire region. It is located north of Caloundra Road, opposite the Sunshine Coast Turf Club, and it has frontages to Honey Farm and Westaway roads.
Some associations and clubs are to relocate there during the next couple of years. They include the Caloundra Football Club, from Meridan Fields Sporting Complex; Sunshine Coast Wanderers Football Club, from Ballinger Park; and the Sunshine Coast Cricket Association and Sunshine Coast Scorchers, from Elizabeth Daniels Sports Complex.
The aerial imagery in this story is from Australian location intelligence company Nearmap. The company provides government organisations, architectural, construction and engineering firms, and other companies, with easy, instant access to high-resolution aerial imagery, city-scale 3D content, artificial intelligence data sets, and geospatial tools to assist with urban planning, monitoring and development projects in Australia, New Zealand and North America.
