Friday, January 24, 2025

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

Future Precinct

Club Whitsunday is Queensland's first true grassroots, greenfield community club to be developed and opened in over 25 years.
Chairman of Club Whitsunday, Justin Butler, highlights that while numerous new clubs have opened during this time, the vast majority have been large, established clubs with significant financial resources and staff, expanding into second or third venues, rather than being true grassroots, ground-up projects.
Chairman Justin Butler emphasized, “Airlie Beach should be proud to be the first town to open a new club from the grassroots in such a long time.”
“Now that the Club is open, our focus is not only on making it the best it can be but also on turning our attention to the future. We’re committed to helping plan and develop sports and community initiatives across the broader Whitsunday Region,” he added.
Justin detailed how the development of their precinct involves careful planning for both short and long-term improvements.
These include upgrading car parking, playing surfaces, lighting, and grandstands, encouraging more sports participation, developing a multi-use indoor sports facility, and expanding the hospitality club to offer larger dining, gaming, and sports bar areas, as well as a new function room.
Justin and his team view the club as the natural home for community sports that people may not typically think of, such as darts, poker, bridge, trivia, and gaming clubs, and they are committed to providing the necessary infrastructure to support these activities over time.
Furthermore, Club Whitsunday is eager to collaborate with the council and other stakeholders on exciting projects such as the new Sporting Precinct at Brandy Creek, as well as the potential development of hospitality clubs in Proserpine and Bowen.

Future planning for precinct begins. Photo Credit: Rachael Smith and Ruth Puddefoot.

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