Stage two of The Great Barrier Reef Arena (GBRA) Development has been announced, with the expansion looking to accommodate a broader range of multi-use facilities.
The new Community Sports and Training Facility will focus on women’s sport, indoor courts, regional programs, and an all-abilities training centre, providing facilities for everyone from local juniors to professional touring athletes.
Two of Australia’s most talented athletes were announced as GBRA’s inaugural ambassadors in Beth Mooney hot off Australia’s 2022 ICC Cricket World Cup win and local legend and Gold Coast Suns AFLW star, Lauren Bella.
Leaders of Mackay Netball, AFL, Cricket, Hockey, Queensland’s Sporting Wheelies Association, and other community organisations also attended to show their support of the development.
“Together with stage one, (stage 2) will cement Mackay as a premier regional Queensland location for multiple sports including cricket, AFL, netball, numerous disability sports, and grow our regional sporting economy,” said Harrup Park General Manager Adrian Young.
Harrup Park and Mackay Cricket Association Chairman Terry Doolan says stage two will directly complement and expand upon the opportunities provided by December’s completion of stage one.
“Together with hosting great events, we have an even stronger focus on participation, education, and skills development,” Mr Doolan said.
“Our growing regional population and central Queensland location sees Mackay ideally placed to become a vital regional centre for community sport, education, and training from grassroots to elite level for people of all abilities.
“With its large-scale multipurpose precinct and connection with a diverse range of popular sports, GBRA provides a perfect base for competition, camps, clinics, carnivals, education, and training.”
Before Beth Mooney and the Australian Cricket Team won The Ashes and the 2022 ICC Cricket World Cup, they played a three-match ODI series against India at GBRA in September last year, which Ms Mooney says was one of the best crowds she’s played in front of.
“The whole team was pumped that we were coming up here,” she said.
“Mackay was really important to impact that generation of people we perhaps might not have reached in the last couple of years.
“The thing that excites me about this project is the community feel of stage two.
“It’s just a really exciting time for this region and something I’m so happy to be supporting.”
Mackay local Lauren Bella thrilled crowds at Great Barrier Reef Arena earlier in the year with her outstanding capacity in the ruck and around the ground for the Gold Coast Suns and says she loves returning to Mackay to inspire the next generation.
“I started when I was 11 and now going back to my junior club, you can see how much Harrup Park and GBRA have progressed, it’s been amazing,” she said.
Sporting Wheelies CEO Amanda Mather says the new GBRA Facility will be a perfect location to inspire the next generation of Paralympians.
“There’s so many opportunities to bring more of our great parasports into this region,” she said.
Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson says he is proud that Harrup Park’s development is locally driven to benefit locals.
“I’ve seen, over the past decade, the passion and the drive that has taken what was a normal community cricket ground into what we are seeing developed today,” he said.
“We are seeing the best facilities coming to our town here at Harrup Park.”
The new Community Sports and Training Facility will include high ball courts and spectator seating, a gym, indoor training facilities, accommodation for regional sporting program participants, administration offices, and fully accessible indoor training facilities and construction is estimated to cost approximately $15-20 million.
L-R Harrup Park General Manager Adrian Young, Great Barrier Reef Arena Arena and Facilities Manager John Stock, Australian Cricketer Beth Mooney, Mackay Netball Association President Lyn Law, Mackay Netball Association chairman Allison Bugeja, Gold Coast Suns player Lauren Bella, Sporting Wheelies CEO Amanda Mather, Labor Candidate for Dawson Shane Hamilton, Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson, and Harrup Park and Mackay Cricket Association Chairman Terry Doolan. Photo: Sam Gillespie
Great Barrier Reef Arena’s Stage 2 development will complement current developments and include indoor courts, accommodation, all-abilities facilities, and more. Images: supplied
