Image: Kingsley Theiber plans to deliver a multi-sport facility to the Pioneer Valley community. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie
For decades, Wests Leagues Club Mackay has been a social and sporting hub for the communities in the Pioneer Valley and beyond.
With the valley’s population growing and the demand for sporting facilities rising, the club has big plans in the works.
“The club acquired a farm that’s directly behind our current facility, over 60 acres we purchased, with the vision to create a multi-sports complex out here in the Pioneer Valley,” said General Manager Kingsley Theiber.
“Unfortunately, there is a massive lack of facilities out in the valley so the club’s taken it upon themselves as part of their vision to complete and construct a multi-sports facility for all residents in the valley and surrounding communities.”
The club currently incorporates two fields which support junior and senior rugby league and soccer and senior soccer as well as a set of cricket nets adjacent to the fields coupled with an undercover bowls green.
The construction of the multi-sport complex will include additional fields to support AFL and cricket, netball courts, more cricket nets, lighting, security, community facilities such as a men’s shed, covered seating, unisex dressing rooms and canteen and bar facilities.
The project will provide a first-class sporting facility for multi-sports in Walkerston for all of the Pioneer Valley, something Mr Theiber says the community is hungry for.
“We have had feedback from our members that have junior children driving into town for training and it’s an hour into town back and forth for some of these people and people are time-poor as it is, which then turns into children not getting opportunities to participate in sport,” he said.
The project is expected to create 160 jobs during construction, 19 full-time club and 30 permanent part-time club positions and bring the community together in more ways than one.
“It’s an essential part of the community, not only for the sporting side of things but from a social aspect as well,” said Mr Theiber.
“Obviously, coming out of Covid, that had a major effect on people’s mental health not being out and social.
“Our role in the community is to be able to provide that social aspect, not only to our sporting codes but to all members of the public.”
The next step is to secure funding for the project.
“All of this is going to be reliant on funding from state, federal and local governments to work in partnership with the club,” Mr Theiber said.
“We look to support from all levels of government to make sure we can create this and make it a reality.”
What Will The Expansion Bring To The Pioneer Valley?:
• Provide a first-class multi-sport sporting facility in Walkerston
• Engage community and enhance the community spirits
• Provide opportunities for all in the region
• Promote and increase participation in sports, through the provision of universally designed facilities
• Be an inclusive club where everyone is welcome
• Develop facilities for girls and women in their chosen sports
• Fill the void in quality sporting and training facilities in the community
• Provide further opportunities for future heroes and role models to be homegrown from the region
