A premier field surrounded by a stadium and earth banks that could seat thousands of spectators is among features proposed in the Fraser Coast Sports and Recreation Precinct Master Plan 2022.

“The draft master plan which was endorsed by Council today (Wednesday February 22) is the strategic vision for the future staged development of the Fraser Coast Sports and Recreation Precinct,” Cr Darren Everard said.

“It identifies what the site should look like and how it should function and takes into consideration community needs and aspirations, existing and potential future users as well as emerging trends in sport and recreation.

“While the Master Plan sets out the future development, we do not anticipate that all elements will proceed immediately. It is a guide to the future development of the precinct.

“The timing for development will depend on available grant funding from the Queensland and Australian Governments, demand and potential community and commercial partnerships.”

The focal point of the precinct is the premier field and adjacent multi-use centre.

“The premier field will provide a first-rate facility capable of hosting high-level sporting and community events,” Cr Daniel Sanderson said.

It is envisaged that the field would have permanent spectator seating for 3,500 and grass spectator embankments surrounding the field, creating an amphitheatre effect which could accommodate 20,000 additional spectators.

Key facilities will include a premier AFL oval, capable of supporting a rectangular field, lighting, scoreboard, covered seating and embankments, amenities and support facilities for players, coaches and officials, kitchen and kiosk, storage facilities and a gymnasium.

The multi-use leisure centre would be the “gateway” to the main precinct. It will enable a variety of sport, recreation and health and wellbeing activities.

Facilities in the leisure centre could include:

• an indoor courts zone with five multi-purpose indoor courts and one show court with retractable seating;
• a health and fitness centre with program rooms, spin room and gym;
• a wellness/ allied health centre with dedicated consultation rooms;
• indoor and outdoor climbing;
• a café and retail zone;
• an aquatics zone featuring a warm water program pool;
• an outdoor zone featuring beach volleyball courts; and
• future potential outdoor multi-purpose hard courts, and future expansion areas.

Cr Sanderson said an essential feature of the leisure centre was its relationship with the premier field, enabling both the leisure centre and premier field to operate as the Precinct’s central hub.

“The leisure centre changerooms will be accessible externally to the premier field to support additional teams for larger sporting events when required,” he said.

The outdoor sport zone will respond to immediate and longer-term demand for outdoor field sports.

The master plan outlines three ovals, clubhouse, and amenities, eight additional netball courts, an athletics precinct featuring a grass athletics track (with the option for a synthetic track in the future)  and a clubhouse and amenities block.

A dedicated cycling precinct and “adventure park” will be provided in the northern section of the Precinct to provide a range of cycling and recreation activities for all ages and abilities.

The facilities include a pump track, skate/ parkour zone, mountain bike skills park, a sealed criterium track featuring two interconnected loops of 0.9km and 0.6km lengths and a 200m finishing straight, amenities, lighting and storage facilities.

The 60-hectare Fraser Coast Sports and Recreation Precinct is on the corner of Woods Road and Chapel Road, Nikenbah.

Stage one of the precinct opened in February 2019 with facilities for netball, soccer and Oztag.

Since the opening, Fraser Coast Cycling has also been based at the precinct and Council has had discussions with the Hervey Bay Basketball Association to relocate to the precinct.

The precinct has already hosted the Brisbane Roar football team on multiple occasions for training camps and exhibition games attended by thousands of people, while the Queensland Reds rugby union squad recently held a pre-season training camp there.

“The completion of stage one was a significant milestone, but it’s also the first step in a long journey. This precinct will grow as our community grows,” Cr Everard said.

“It’s an investment for now and it’s an investment for the future of Fraser Coast sport, leisure and entertainment.”

Article & Images submitted by Fraser Coast Regional Council – 22/02/2023

Cover photo – Artist impression of premier fields