A new arena and upgrades to three sporting precincts are the top priorities outlined in Townsville City Council's submission to the State Government's 100-day review into Olympic and Paralympic Games infrastructure.
The review will assess statewide infrastructure related to the Olympic and Paralympic Games and is Council's opportunity to make its voice heard to the Queensland Government to request much-needed infrastructure ahead of to the Games.
Townsville 2032 Legacy Working Group chairperson Councillor Suzy Batkovic OLY said Townsville deserved high-quality local sports infrastructure to benefit sports, tourism and major events across the city.
"I'm proud to be working with all levels of government to make sure Townsville is getting its fair share ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. There are funds available from the State Government, so we want to make sure our community gets what it needs and give Townsville the opportunity to become a sports hub in the lead up to the Games," Cr Batkovic said.
"There are four major priorities in Council's submission to the 100-day review, including delivering a new arena for Townsville and upgrading Murray Sporting Complex, Riverway Stadium and the Townsville Aquatic Precinct.
"Townsville Entertainment Centre is at the end of its life, so the time has come to build a new and robust arena for our community.
"The new, multi-use and high-tech arena will not only be a much-needed training ground ahead of the Olympics, but a significant piece of infrastructure that will bring jobs to Townsville from the very start of construction and benefit our region for years to come before and after the Games.
"I often say 'if you can see it, you can be it', so having the infrastructure here in Townsville to attract major sporting events will give our kids in North Queensland the chance to see it, be inspired and chase their dreams. It doesn't matter if you're from a regional town or a capital city, we should have the right infrastructure available for our kids to be inspired and work towards the goal of Brisbane 2032.
"We have seven years to get this infrastructure up and running for the benefit of Townsville and our young sports stars from across the region."
Townsville City Council's submission asks for an investment of $180 million from the State Government and a matched $180 million from the Federal Government for the new arena, with the remaining projects needing about $55 million.
Townsville Sailing Club ambassador John Byrnes said there was a push from national and international competitors to bring larger sailing world championships to Townsville's Aquatic Precinct at The Strand.
"What the overseas competitors are saying to us is that we're running small world championships right now and doing a good job of it, but if we had a bigger facility we could run massive world championships which comes with enormous sports tourism," Mr Brynes said.
"We have a history of running Australian and world championships right out of the Townsville Sailing Club, and all of our overseas and national competitors are blown away by the activities we have here, with a great sailing bay with the city right next door.
"We've got stadiums for all sorts of sports in Townsville, but what we don't have is a marine stadium. The plans we have for the Aquatic Precinct is all about a combined sports hub for all aquatic sports and activities, not just sailing. Our vision is to have a facility here with families having picnics in the park, kids playing games on the beach, children learning how to fish with their granddads."
Federal member for Herbert Phil Thompson said it was important for all levels of government to work together to ensure Townsville got its fair share of funding.
"We need to make sure that Townsville, the capital of Northern Australia isn't forgotten about. It is the largest city the furthest away from a capital city, which means we don't only need our fair share, but we must have the same as the South East," Mr Thompson said.
"You shouldn't have to leave Townsville and go to Brisbane or Sydney to compete in a sport or to train, we should have it here."
State member for Thuringowa Natalie Marr said the infrastructure outlined in the review would benefit Townsville far beyond the 2032 Games.
"This funding request from Council isn't just about the Olympics, it's about the five years before the Games and it's for the future of Townsville. To bring some of the competing countries to Townsville before the games, we'll see economic benefit … we just need to have the facilities to do that. If we have these facilities here, we have more engagement from families and kids to get into the sport they like, hopefully keeping them here and giving them great opportunities to be a future Olympian, or an NBL player, or a Cowboy," Ms Marr said.
Member for Townsville Adam Baillie said the new infrastructure would be attractive not only to local athletes but also to competitors from across the globe.
"Townsville is a city that will provide athletes with the ability to get accustomed to our time zone, acclimatised to our weather and, in the lead-up to the Games, get their bodies primed for their performance on the world stage," Mr Baillie said.
"The Olympics is a very competitive and patriotic event, so you'll have every country looking to get an advantage over each other. What Townsville provides is an area that's in the same time zone as the Olympics, we're a short flight away, and our climate is a little bit warmer which works best for physical performance. If we have the facilities for these athletes to train in, I can see countries looking to book out zones in Townsville, station themselves here and make it their headquarters ahead of the Olympics."
Member for Mundingburra and Assistant Minister for North Queensland Janelle Poole said having the right infrastructure in place would ensure Townsville and North Queensland's young athletes could hone their skills without leaving the region.
"Townsville is a fantastic place to live, to work and to play, and we have a demand for these arenas. It's about building those legacies for our young people, because we have had young people form Townsville represent us at the Olympics and we do have some exceptionally talented young people, and they will go on and represent their country," Ms Poole said.
Federal member for Dawson Andrew Wilcox said the new infrastructure would make sports more accessible to North Queenslanders.
"Originally when Premier Palaszczuk pitched the Olympics, it was the Olympics for all of Queensland and I want that to continue, and I want this to be an Olympics for all of Queensland," Mr Wilcox said.
"You shouldn't have to be an elite athlete and have to go to Brisbane. When we develop these facilities, I want them to be available for Mr and Mrs Joe Average and every kid. If people can be involved in sport, it's the world's greatest equaliser. That's the success story."
