Masterplan Delivers New Home for Rockhampton Netball
Published on 04 October 2023
A new home for Rockhampton Netball will be provided as part of a multi-use sports precinct in North Rockhampton.
Rockhampton Regional Council today released a master plan for the precinct which has been developed in partnership with CQUniversity and will be located along the eastern side (Norman Road) of the University campus.
The master plan includes new sporting infrastructure and open space to cater for current and future needs of the region as well as a playground and community recreation facilities.
Under the plan which will require State and Federal Government funding, Council will prioritise Stage 1 of the development to deliver a new, flood-free and contemporary home for Rockhampton Netball. This will include 16 fit-for-purpose hard courts, new club facilities and change spaces and 3-court indoor facility.
It will also include a community play space with playground, basketball and pickleball spaces as well as establishing access to the precinct via Norman Road at Foulkes Street.
Importantly, the new netball facilities will provide additional capacity for the sport to grow and expand their fixtures, carnivals and competitions. This will include the ability to attract new state and regional level competitions and events which provide local athletes the opportunity to develop their talents at home in the Rockhampton Region.
The new site will also mean that netball is better integrated into existing infrastructure located on the University site and part of a larger, more comprehensive sporting precinct.
The full Rockhampton Sports Precinct Master Plan includes:
- 6-court indoor sports centre with associated facilities (able to be delivered in 2 stages)
- 16-court outdoor precinct
- Extensive grass playing fields (with the potential to be configured as either 6 rectangular or 3 oval fields) and associated club facilities
- Athletics facilities
- Park area with active recreation facilities and play spaces
- Car parking throughout the precinct
The Rockhampton Sports Precinct is a long-term vision to deliver sporting facilities and community open space for the future and, fully realized, will provide the region with facilities and space it needs to grow its reputation as the sporting capital of Central Queensland.
Council has already begun engaging with other levels of government to advocate for Stage 1 (a New Home for Rockhampton Netball) with detailed design, costings and land tenure agreements identified as the next step to securing funding for the project from State and Federal Government.
Council will also be working with local sporting associations and clubs over the coming 12 months to refine future staging, governance arrangements and timeframes of the remaining components of the precinct.
The community will be invited to provide their feedback on the precinct and components via a community engagement process beginning in October.
For more information on the Rockhampton Sports Precinct, its staging and community engagement, visit https://engage.rockhamptonregion.qld.gov.au/.
Quotes attributable to Mayor of Rockhampton Regional Council, Cr Tony Williams:
“Netball is a cornerstone of our sporting community with thousands of players of all ages taking part in the sport.
“This new home at the Rockhampton Sports Precinct will mean that netball will have the facilities and space it needs to compete with our regional neighbours and continue to grow the sport locally.
“It will ensure that local players have those important opportunities to compete at regional and state level and do so right here in Rockhampton.
“We want to give those young players the facilities they need to develop their skills and be excited to come to training and competitions. That starts with contemporary facilities and space to grow and that is what this project will provide for the future.
“We have already started engaging with other levels of government and I’m hopeful that we will see a positive response from our State and Federal colleagues about the project.
“I want to thank CQUniversity for their support. This has been a great example of how two public organisations can work together to deliver positive outcomes for the community.”
Quotes attributable to Chief Operating Officer of CQUniversity Australia, Narelle Pearse:
“CQUniversity is supportive of Council’s plan to co-locate a world standard, multi-purpose sporting precinct on the CQUniversity Rockhampton North campus.
“Universities act as important community hubs and co-locating this precinct on the Rockhampton North campus will benefit our staff, students, residents at Capricornia College, sporting organisations from across the region and the general community, who will all be able to access the excellent facilities set out in Council’s masterplan for the precinct.
“We are also very supportive of the Council’s commitment to engage the community by seeking feedback on the draft masterplan and encourage all community members including CQU staff and students to register their feedback via the Council’s website.
“We look forward to working together with Rockhampton Regional Council on this exciting community project.”
Quotes attributable to Parks Sport and Public Spaces Portfolio Chair of Rockhampton Regional Council, Cr Cherie Rutherford:
“This is a very exciting day for our sporting community and our region.
“One of our great challenges of delivering new sporting infrastructure has always been finding flood-free land that would be large enough to cater for multi-use precincts.
“What we have unveiled is far more than just an idea – it is a real and tangible plan to create a thriving sports precinct in the heart of our region.
“That begins with the announcement of a New Home for Rockhampton Netball which will provide modern, fit-for-purpose facilities to a sport that really is going from strength to strength and will give them those important opportunities to grow and develop in the future.
“I want to thank CQUniversity for their support in this initiative and I look forward to seeing the full master plan implemented and developed in the future.”
Quotes attributable to President of Rockhampton Netball, Simone Hitchcock:
“Netball is one of Rockhampton’s most popular sports and this announcement means we will have the opportunity to grow and expand in brand new facilities.
“A new netball precinct at CQUniversity will mean Rockhampton can attract larger competitions we have previously missed out on and gives our local players exposure to that high level of play in the future.
“It also connects us to existing facilities we use and links netball into a much larger sporting precinct which will allow cross-sectional skill development and strengthen Rockhampton’s sporting community.
“The new precinct will help develop local talent and cater for increasing demand as we see more and more people participating in the sport across the region.
“In line with Netball Queensland’s inclusion policy, Rockhampton Netball strives to offer competitions for all people and this new facility will greatly increase that ability to provide a suitable environment for netball participation for everyone.
“We have worked closely with Council and others to help support the master plan and we are looking forward to seeing it become a reality.”
Flythrough and images available here https://rockhamptonregion.sharefile.com/d-sce49c488089044bc86bb9c43cde2516d