Coalition pledges $15m to Dolphins’ $23m Centre of Excellence

A re-elected Coalition Government will back a world-class high-performance facility for Queensland’s newest NRL club.

Queensland’s fourth NRL club is getting a world-class high-performance facility that will give junior players and rising stars the chance to become the next Daly Cherry-Evans and help the Dolphins rise to be one of the competition’s premier teams.

The Dolphins will get a state-of-the-art centre of excellence under a $15 million grant from a re-elected Coalition Government, Prime Minister Scott Morrison will announce today.

It will cover more the half the costs for the $23 million project which will include high-performance training and recovery facilities, as well as provide support for junior players.

The Redcliffe Dolphins will get $15 million for a centre of excellence under a re-elected Morrison Government. Junior Dolphins (left to right), Tyson Allan, 10, Chloe Stanworth, 9, Payton Stanworth, 10, Zane Stanworth, 7. Picture: Steve Pohlner

The centre is also intended to assist the development of women and girls as the Dolphins seek to join an expanded NRLW.

The funding announcement is part of a bigger pitch to families from Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who today will also announce a promise to tackle mobile phone and internet black spots in outer suburban areas.

The Redcliffe-based Dolphins were confirmed as the NRL’s 17th team in October last year, with the historic Queensland club having produced Origin greats Daly Cherry-Evans and Petero Civoniceva as well as NRL hardman Josh McGuire, and has appointed supercoach Wayne Bennett as its inaugural head coach.

Mr Morrison said the centre of excellence would provide benefits for elite and junior rugby league players as well as community sporting organisations.

“By securing a strong economy we can guarantee funding for essential community facilities like this new Centre of Excellence in Redcliffe, which will support the Dolphins as they enter the NRL but importantly it will provide better training amenities for young boys and girls,” Mr Morrison said.

“The Dolphins have been the beating heart of Redcliffe since 1947, and I look forward to the club inspiring the entire local community and the next generation of players, just as previous rugby league greats Arthur Beetson, Petero Civoniceva and Daly Cherry-Evans did in years past.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will promise $15 million for a centre of excellence for the Redcliffe Dolphins. Picture: Jason Edwards

The club plans to start work on the $23 million project at the end of its inaugural season in 2023, with work to be completed by the end of the 2024 season.

The Government previously committed $15 million to the North Queensland Cowboys centre of excellence just prior to the 2019 election campaign, while the Brisbane Broncos’ centre also benefited from state and federal government funds.

Mr Morrison will also commit $28.2 million towards 66 projects addressing mobile phone black spots across the country, including three in the marginal seat of Longman.

The three Longman projects are a Telstra site at Old N Road and Bellmere Road, Bellmere, as well as new Telstra and Optus sites at Torrens Road, Caboolture South.

“Supporting Australians living in our suburbs and particularly outer urban areas is a key part of our economic plan to create a stronger economy for a stronger future,” Mr Morrison said.

Originally published as Coalition pledges $15m to Dolphins’ $23m Centre of Excellence