Browne Park stadium upgrades to begin in late 2022, include new grandstand, lighting, and player rooms

Initial plans for the stadium include a western grandstand with seating for up to 4,000 spectators, upgraded player and media rooms, new lighting towers, better catering, and toilets.

Rob Crow, Barry O'Rourke, Matt Johnson and Mark Dempsey of Turner and Townsend at Browne Park.

Heavy machinery for a $25 million redevelopment of Rockhampton’s Browne Park will move onto the Wandal stadium next year.

Initial plans for the stadium include a western grandstand with seating for up to 4,000 spectators, upgraded player and media rooms, new lighting towers, better catering, and toilets.

Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke said an independent project manager had been hired to plan and design the 10,000-seat stadium, and to help with development approvals and construction.

“It has been a big year for Browne Park with NRL premiership matches fought here, including the Parramatta versus Newcastle semi-final clash,” Mr O’Rourke said.

“Central Queenslanders are passionate about rugby league, and Browne Park Stadium will take Rockhampton’s traditional home of football to a new level.”

He said construction would entail roughly 80 jobs and be complete by early 2024.

Rockhampton MP Barry O'Rourke at Browne Park.

Money for the upgrades was not included in the State Government’s 2021-22 budget, but Mr O’Rourke said in June that the 2022-23 budget would contain the necessary funding.

“There will be opportunities for local construction workers and subcontractors to be a part of the project,” Mr O’Rourke said.

“We’ll soon be giving nearby residents and key stakeholders the opportunity to have their say on the proposed development.

“There are some exciting concepts for the redevelopment, but we want to make sure we get the planning and the design right, and most importantly the community’s support.”

Tourism and Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the project would make Rockhampton a more attractive location for sporting carnivals and cultural events.

“From a tourism perspective, more events mean more visitors who spend with local businesses and are more likely to explore Central Queensland’s many year-round tourist experiences,” he said.