The four big sports projects soon to be complete

These organisations are working in the background to ensure sport returns bigger and better

Hayden Hammer, 5, keeps his eye on the ball at a Pioneer Tennis training session. Picture: Tony Martin

WHEN Covid-19 restrictions are lifted and sport resumes in Mackay, there will be several new facilities for players and fans to make use of.

Several grounds and courts have had facelifts and will be nearly unrecognisable when able to be used for their intended purpose once again.

Here are some exiting projects that will be finished in the coming months:

 

Mackay Basketball Stadium

The 266-seat grandstand at the Mackay Basketball Stadium is nearing completion.

Mackay Queensland Basketball League general manager Joel Khalu said the scaffolding had been completed and the rest would be done in about three weeks.

"We are probably three-quarters of the way there. All the framework and that for the corporate boxes are done," he said.

Progression of the new grandstand at the Mackay Multi-Sport Stadium.

"We just need to do a few small things - painting, laying the carpet and installing the seats."

While the NBL1 Season was called off for the year, Khalu said the new grandstand would bring an air of excitement when basketball returned.

"Having something brand new like this is sensational," he said.

"Whenever the COVID restrictions are (lifted) we'll try do a big community event as a grand opening."

The GM tossed up an All-Stars game or carnival as ideas to celebrate the return of basketball and act as the opening for the grandstand.

The Mackay multi-sport stadium's main court will have a full capacity of over 1100 people once the project is completed.

The north side grandstand can fit 800, plus 86 seats on ground level.

"To have that at the NBL1 North level will make us (one of) the biggest venues in the league," Khalu said.

"The University of the Sunshine Coast and USQ in Toowoomba have big facilities, but don't typically fill them. Whereas here for teams to come and play in front of 1100 will be exciting."

 

Mackay Netball Courts

THE MACKAY netball courts got a new look at the beginning of last year when 16 new courts were installed for the 2019 season.

This season was set to be the first with the new female facilities before restrictions postponed the first few rounds.

 

Inside the new facilities at Mackay Netball Association.

 

The new facilities were built onto the original hall and include a fixtures office, parents' room, officials' room, showers and toilets and new water fountains.

Mackay Netball Association president Janine Wood said the new additions would open the club up to many more opportunities, like hosting carnivals.

She also said it would give back to the regular players and better suit their needs.

"For people like our Moranbah team who travel two hours each way, it gives them the opportunity to shower before they go back," Wood said.

"We're looking at adding a cafe which would give people an opportunity to have a coffee at the courts with us instead of going elsewhere."

 

Inside the new facilities at Mackay Netball Association.

 

Wood said it was the first upgrade the netball centre had received that she had experienced. She added that it was a much-needed boost to the sport in the region.

"We've had an old look for so long so it's good to look new and exciting," she said.

The netball season will aim to be back underway by July and include a full 15-week junior and senior competition and 20-week premier competition.

 

Pioneer Tennis

COMPACT courts will help Pioneer Tennis branch out and make the sport accessible to people of all abilities.

In about three weeks construction will finish on four modified courts: two half-courts to play touch tennis on and two 11m x 5.5m dimension courts for red ball tennis.

 

Progression of the new courts at Pioneer Tennis. The courts are predicted to be completed mid-May.

Touch tennis is a modified game on a compact court with a foam ball and shorter racket.

Red ball tennis uses a ball which is larger, with a lower bounce height that moves slower through the air. It is mainly used for juniors and beginners.

Centre manager and coach Steven Merker said the courts were one of a kind in North Queensland and could help players young and old who are not capable of playing on full-sized courts.

"We're looking to engage the disabled community here and help them pick up the sport," he said.

"The small courts would also serve the older community who have trouble moving across the standard court distance.

"It gives us a bit more variety and it helps us cater to all the different ability groups in Mackay. I think the smaller version isn't as daunting as the full court."

 

Mackay Hockey Association

THE OLD, green artificial turf has been stripped from the Mackay hockey grounds and replaced with a sleek blue and black hybrid field.

The field upgrades are almost finished. A new perimeter fence was installed and the two new dugouts, which will be installed this week, are the cherry on top.

Mackay Hockey president Matt Murphy said the new field would be completed in mid-June and hoped to have the installation of new lights started by July.

If the season is allowed to return before the lights are installed, Murphy said the competition would be fixtured in daylight hours.

The president added the club was donated a new mobile LED scoreboard by Optus.

Murphy hoped the new facilities would give the organisation a leg-up in attracting all members back to the pitch.

"That is concern Queensland Hockey has - when things start up again we'll need as many members back as possible," he said.

"I think this gives us a good advantage."

 

Progression of the old artificial turf being stripped and the new turf being installed at the Mackay Hockey grounds.

Murphy said the upgrades were much-needed.

"The original turf was 20 years old. They relayed the surface 11 years ago, but this time they've redone the shockpad underneath," he said.

Murphy said the new look of the grounds already had people talking about returning for "one more year".

The new field is a hybrid surface which needs less water to play on.

"The new look is really good, and with the new fence it looks like a brand new facility," he said.

"Mackay Hockey has been so far behind for so long. The next thing is we want some upgrades to the clubhouse and amenities when all this returns to normal."