West Tigers Mackay plans massive expansion, seeking support

Three new fields, two new ovals, outdoor and indoor courts, female-friendly changing rooms and more places to park. SEE THE PLANS HERE FIRST>

Wests Tigers Mackay chairman Brett Leach and general manager Kingsley Theiber. Picture: Heidi Petith

The largest club in Mackay’s Pioneer Valley is hoping the twin elections of 2024 could be their ticket to unlocking $18 to $20 million of expansion plans.

Wests Tigers Mackay chairman Brett Leach said the Walkerston club’s masterplan detailed three new fields for soccer, gridiron and rugby league; two new ovals for AFL and cricket; an outdoor and indoor court for basketball and netball; a female-friendly changing room; new canteen and bar; lighting upgrades; and more car parks.

Mr Leach said members had paid for most of the sporting facilities “out of their back pocket” so far with the club struggling to receive funding from the state government, but there were hopes this year’s local and state elections could change that.

He said it was either up to the club to provide sporting infrastructure for the more than 2000 Pioneer Valley families or all Mackay region ratepayers via the council, adding Wests could not just tap into large gambling revenues like inner city clubs.

Wests Tigers Mackay general manager Kingsley Theiber said they had land ready to build on having bought a cane farm paddock two years ago, with economic modelling showing the expansion would create 126 new jobs and inject $11.34 million into gross regional product.

Wests Tigers Mackay in Walkerston has unveiled its club expansion master plan which includes three new fields for soccer, gridiron and rugby league, as well as two new ovals for AFL and cricket. Picture: Contributed

Mr Theiber said the expansion would also prevent Valley residents having to make long round trips into Mackay to play sport, including families on school nights, with future scope for a PCYC facility to provide after-school care for students at Mirani, Marian, Eton, North Eton, and Walkerston primary schools.

He said the expansion would further strengthen the club’s capacity to serve as a social hub for the region’s youth, with Wests already unrolling sporting programs like football seminars at schools.

Wests Tigers Mackay in Walkerston has ambitious plans to expand. Seen above are the two ovals, and five new sporting fields. Picture: Contributed

But Wests is just one of at least three Mackay region sporting clubs with ambitions to grow.
Harrup Park on the southside is campaigning for funds to realise its Stage 2 expansion plans for the Great Barrier Reef Arena and Magpies Sporting Club on the northside has outlined its bid to build an Olympic-standard multipurpose centre to the tune of $20 to $30 million.

While all three clubs’ plans include indoor courts, incumbent mayor Greg Williamson said it was not “pie in the sky thinking” that two or all three clubs could realise their goal, with a potential for one club to focus on basketball and another on netball and so on.

“Obviously when we live in this region, indoor arenas are one of the ways that are essential for us to go,” Mr Williamson said, adding the 2032 Olympics would present opportunities to build sporting infrastructure across regional Queensland.

“The masterplan that they have done at Wests has my total personal support and I think it should be a priority to assist Wests in the development and delivery of that plan for the council,” he said.

Wests Tigers general manager Kingsley Theiber and Federal member for Capricorn Michelle Landry.

Fellow 2024 mayoral candidate Steve Jackson said he loved Wests’ vision and if elected, his team would do everything they could to help, with their focus on supporting families in the region’s outer suburbs.

The third and final mayoral candidate, incumbent councillor Laurence Bonaventura, said the council had supported the club to develop its masterplan with a $30,000 grant and he would lead a council that helped Wests source more funds with possible avenues including the Precinct Grants and Queensland Hydro’s Hero Projects.

Mr Bonaventura said Wests’ “well-planned” proposal would service the surrounding communities “well into the future”.

Mirani MP Stephen Andrew said he would vouch for Wests’ proposal in parliament and he hoped the state government could deliver like it did with its $10 million injection to kick start Stage 1 of the Great Barrier Reef Arena.

“It would be nice to see the club brought up to scratch,” Mr Andrew said.

Capricornia MP Michelle Landry said she was delighted to have delivered $650,000 for Wests in 2018 for its undercover bowling green and club extension and would continue to advocate for more money.

“The club has served as a breeding ground for talent development, nurturing the skills of aspiring athletes while instilling values such as discipline, resilience and fair play,” Ms Landry said, adding it also fostered community pride via hosting events and tournaments.