Mackay, North Queensland pushes for 2032 Olympics inclusion at senate inquiry

Sporting bodies, mayors and councillors will make passionate pleas at an inquiry focused on regional Queensland’s push to be included in 2032 Olympics. See what’s being proposed.

Harrup Park CEO Adrian Young (left) is hoping Great Barrier Reef Arena can host Olympic events and training. Picture: Supplied.

One of the many defining moments along North Queensland’s quest to host Olympic events beckons on Thursday.

Sporting bodies as well as mayors and councillors will speak at a senate inquiry hearing focused on regional Queensland’s push to be included in the lead up to, and hosting of, events at the 2032 games.

Dawson MP Andrew Willcox, who fought for the hearing to be heard in Mackay, said the region had “amazing sporting facilities” and presented an opportunity “to show the people down south what we can do here”.

“We have the people, we have the skillset, and we have the passion,” Mr Willcox said.

Speaking at the inquiry will be Magpies Sporting Club sport and community liaison officer Kigan Motu.

Magpies earlier made a submission stating “we have not seen evidence” on how the region’s “excellence green spaces” would be used in the lead up to the games.

The 2021 AFL Mackay grand final being played at Magpies. Picture: Matthew Forrest

It further outlined the not-for-profit community club’s proposal to build Mackay’s first all-abilities indoor multipurpose centre to cater for Paralympic sports including goalball and wheelchair rugby as well as basketball, netball and indoor volleyball.

Its idea shared similarities with that of Mackay’s Great Barrier Reef Arena, which was pushing for support to build Stage 2 of its proposed upgrade.

If funding can be secured, this stage will feature: four high ball courts, training facilities and dormitories for indoor cricket, AFL, Sporting Wheelies, Paralympic and all-abilities athletes; and an all-abilities gym and recovery facility including a hydrotherapy pool.

Cooper Whitestyles in action for the Mackay Machines in Cairns.

There will also be sports administration and allied health offices, high-level education facilities, female change rooms, and upgrades for the media and broadcasting of sport at the precinct.

GBRA’s submission stated it had the potential to become an “anchor attraction and flagship destination for domestic tourism” with the attached Harrup Park Country Club already supporting dozens of affiliate sporting clubs.

Harrup Park CEO Adrian Young, who will speak at the hearing, is confident the arena could host Olympic level cricket, arguing it had the “best pitch and outfield outside of the Gabba”.

Footy being played at Tiger Park in 2021, Wests hope to turn the surrounding land into a major sporting complex. Photo: Callum Dick

Also hoping the Olympics could inject cash into ambitious expansion plans is Wests Tigers Sporting Club which hopes to build a multimillion-dollar premier complex complete with new fields, a new oval for cricket and AFL, a new field house and female-friendly change rooms, and LED lighting upgrades.

In its inquiry submission, Wests stated the expansion would allow the club to cater for key sports including cricket, football, basketball and rugby sevens in the lead up to 2032.

The inquiry committee will also hear from Mackay Regional Council deputy mayor Karen May and councillor Martin Bella, Townsville City Council mayor Jenny Hill, and Central Highlands Regional Council mayor Kerry Hayes, Rugby League Mackay and District chairman Heath Grundy, Rugby Union Townsville and Districts director Daniel Withers, AFL Finance, Clubs and Infrastructure executive general manager Matthew Chun, and Townsville Cricket Inc president Peter Busch.