NO TO GO: Great Barrier Reef Arena project timeline

We look back on the long journey leading up to yesterday’s funding announcement from the State Government.

A fan high fives the Gold Coast Suns AFLW mascot at the Gold Coast Suns AFLW and Geelong Cats at Harrup Park. Picture: Tony Martin

A WORLD-CLASS sporting and entertainment facility will soon be at Mackay's fingertips, after Harrup Park's Great Barrier Reef Arena project finally received the $10 million State Government commitment it needed to get the ball rolling.

The project was included in a list of 12 initiatives as part of the government's Mackay Whitsunday Regional Recovery Action Plan, announced yesterday.

The arena is expected to be one of the nation's premiere boutique sporting venues, capable of hosting Big Bash, Women's Big Bash, AFL, AFLW and international cricket formats.

See: First look at premiere Great Barrier Reef Arena vision

Construction on the arena upgrade is expected to start in early 2021.

The funding confirmation marked a milestone day for the project, more than 18 months after the delivery of a promised $10 million Federal Government grant which set the wheels in motion.

For Stage 1 of the project to go ahead, Harrup Park required matched State Government funding of the $10 million Federal commitment acquired through the Regional Growth Fund.

When the Great Barrier Reef Arena project was left out of the State Budget in June last year, there were real concerns the Federal Government contribution was at "immediate risk".

Since then, key community leaders have pushed to have the significance of the project recognised. Yesterday, their message was finally heard.

The Daily Mercury has provided extensive coverage of the process. See below for a brief timeline of the project's highs and lows leading up to yesterday's announcement.

TIMELINE

March 3, 2019 - The Gold Coast Suns and Western Bulldogs play in the AFL pre-season JLT Community Series at Harrup Park, putting Mackay on the national sports radar.

March 9, 2019 - Harrup Park confirms it is pursuing bringing international cricket events to Mackay, after the delivery of a $10 million Federal Government grant.

June 7, 2019 - A lack of broadcasting facilities at Harrup Park forces Cricket Australia to relocate two international women's cricket matches, set to be played in Mackay in October 2019, to Allan Border Field in Brisbane.

June 12, 2019 - In another blow, Harrup Park's required matched funding from the State Government is left off the State Budget. The project is now at "immediate risk", with the $10 million federal commitment hinging on matched State Government support.

June 19, 2019 - Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is questioned over whether Harrup Park would receive the required State Government funding while on a visit to Mackay. The Premier says the project was left off the budget because 'the business case hasn't been done yet'. Harrup Park general manager Matt Cielens disputed that claim, saying a detailed business case was provided to all levels of government in 2017.

July 20, 2019 - The Great Barrier Reef Arena is one of the headline projects in the Daily Mercury's 'Our Future Mackay' campaign. Demographer Bernard Salt explains why having state-of-the-art sporting facilities provides long lasting benefits to a community.

July 23, 2019 - Cricket Australia officials join a growing chorus of sporting bodies calling on the stalled project to go ahead. CA head of government relations and infrastructure Grant Poulter says the project is "a high priority for Cricket Australia and Queensland Cricket", adding the expansion and upgrading of facilities is "essential to enhancing opportunities for hosting elite cricket in Mackay".

July 23, 2019 - Brisbane Heat general manager Andrew McShea says the club is "really committed" to playing in Mackay, but "we need the facilities to improve to do that".

July 24, 2019 - Shadow Sport Minister John-Paul Langbroek says Labor has let the business case for the project "gather dust for two years" and his party will "certainly consider the current funding shortfall before the next state election".

August 8, 2019 - Representatives from Harrup Park, Mackay Regional Council and Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert meet to discuss the project's funding battle.

August 17, 2019 - Mackay Regional Council backs out of a plan to apply for $7 million in State Government funding to upgrade the Great Barrier Reef Arena, in a major blow to the project's hopes.

November 15, 2019 - During a tour of cricket facilities in north Queensland, Queensland Cricket CEO Terry Svenson says Harrup Park "is one of the better facilities in regional Queensland in terms of the field (and) the quality of lights. The next step is upgrading the facilities to allow for permanent broadcast."

January 25, 2020 - The Daily Mercury exclusively reveals concept designs for the Great Barrier Reef Arena project.

January 25, 2020 - CoffsHarbour Regional Council mayor Denise Knight tells the Daily Mercury her town has "a love affair" with their boutique stadium, adding "as far as the impact on our community is concerned, it's all positive". The 10,000 seat C.ex International Stadium, alongside other recent projects in Ballarat and Redcliffe, provide a helpful road map for Mackay and Harrup Park to follow.

January 31, 2020 - Mackay's own AFLW star Lauren Bella throws her support behind the project.

January 31, 2020 - Updated concept designs for the Great Barrier Reef Arena project are presented to Sport Minister Mick de Brenni and Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert in Brisbane. Harrup Park GM Matt Cielens says the club is "hopeful … the strong community and stakeholder support … will help realise a budget commitment from the State Government".

February 5, 2020 - Mackay's Brisbane Heat WBBL star Charli Knott says Harrup Park boasts some of the best playing facilities she has experienced and welcomes further upgrades to better support women's Big Bash in the region.

February 6, 2020 - Lauren Bella says attracting national and international-level live sport to Mackay can also have a positive impact on the growth of junior athletes who get to see their sporting heroes in the flesh.

February 11, 2020 - Queensland Cricket CEO Terry Svensen says Harrup Park's "unique" configuration makes it an attractive option to host state and national junior championships. He adds that QC is "fully supportive" of the Great Barrier Reef Arena project, which would "allow us to bring international content here to Mackay".

February 13, 2020 - Australian cricket legend Ian Healy says the quality of Mackay's cricket facilities are "better than anything we have in Brisbane for example".

May 19, 2020 - Mackay Tourism CEO Tas Webber and Mackay Airport GM Garry Porter throw their support behind the Great Barrier Reef Arena project.

June 24, 2020 - Dawson MP George Christensen calls on the State Government to show its support for the arena project.

From left: Terry Doolan, Harrup Park Country Club chairman, and George Christensen, Federal MP for Dawson.

July 9, 2020 - AFL Queensland CEO Dean Warren says Mackay will be considered as a potential AFL home and away season host, as the competition is forced to shift to Queensland in the wake of coronavirus. Mr Warren warns the lack of broadcast infrastructure will likely hamper Harrup Park's case to host. Cazaly's Stadium in Cairns is later confirmed to host three AFL matches.

July 17, 2020 - Mackay Tourism CEO says attracting the AFL to Mackay would having a lasting positive impact on the region.

September 29, 2020 - Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is in Mackay to confirm the Great Barrier Reef Arena project has, finally, received a $10 million commitment from the State Government.

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