Football Queensland and the Brisbane City Council have struck a landmark $35 million deal for the development of Nudgee Recreation Reserve in the city’s north.
The deal will help to transform the former landfill site into the centre of football in Queensland. It will include the building of six state-of-the-art multipurpose sports fields, the installation of sport field lighting to facilitate the playing of games in the evening, a new club house, and also a number of community facilities including a playground and even a BMX track.
It is a significant contribution to the game in Queensland, where following the success of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, both governing bodies and politicians alike are throwing their empathic support behind football’s development for both girls and boys.
In Queensland, football is the state’s largest participation sport and has seen rapid growth particularly in the women’s game. The hope is that Nudgee’s development will help to meet the demands of all Queensland football but particularly the recently launched Girls United social league, giving it not only fields but also a headquarters.
Speaking on the impact that the Matildas success has had on the decision to provide such significant funding, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner directly correlated the two.
“The incredible efforts of our Matildas and the huge crowds during the Women’s World Cup show this facility is being delivered right in time to meet the booming participation in football by women and girls,” he said via press release.
Football Queensland CEO Robert Cavallucci expressed similar sentiments, reflecting on the growth and reach of the game in the state.
“Today’s announcement will help meet the existing pressures and demands of the 40,000 strong club-based participants in Brisbane LGA and further support the delivery of community, development, and female football programs to the more than 35,000 social players in Brisbane as part of a Metro North Football hub,” he added via press release.
“Enabling infrastructure projects like this are key to delivering opportunities for the thousands of boys and girls who are being turned away by local clubs every season due to a lack of infrastructure to service the current demands of our ever growing game.
“I’d like to commend Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and recognise the great work of the Brisbane City Council for acknowledging this and delivering such a critical boost to the community. Football Queensland will create more places for the local community to play football and deliver more programs to improve the football experience for participants of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.
“The success of the biggest ever FIFA Women’s World Cup currently happening in our own backyard is a reflection that Brisbane is a football city, with a huge appetite for the beautiful game.
“With the CommBank Matildas inspiring a new generation of young male and female footballers, infrastructure like this facility will ensure we can serve the next generation by meeting the infrastructure needs of today.”
This announcement is a significant victory for Australian football as it shows the impact that the Matilda’s success is going to have at the public funding level. As the game has often struggled for recognition against the other established codes, it is wonderful to see the beautiful game being championed by our women’s team and for that success to be inspiring not just young boys and girls take up the sport but also for politicians to dig deep.
Developments like Nudgee being fundamental in allowing our future Sam Kerrs and Mackenzie Arnolds in Brisbane to reach those dreams.
Nudgee Recreation Reserve’s development has already got under way and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
