About 20 sports clubs in Pine Rivers will benefit from multi-million dollar upgrades to two facilities

The grass will be greener for local sporting clubs when players return to the field post COVID-19.

South Pine Sports Complex at Brendale

THERE is some good news for the thousands of people itching to get back on the sports fields when COVID-19 restrictions lift.

Moreton Bay Council is preparing for life after lockdown and has more than $20 million of sports facility upgrades under way.

Contractors have broken ground on the $6m Les Hughes Sports Complex upgrade at Bray Park while work has begun on a $15m section of the South Pine Sports Complex overhaul at Brendale.

Work has begun on a $6 million upgrade of Les Hughes Sports Complex at Bray Park.

The council is also fast-tracking a masterplan for $135m in future upgrades to the South Pine complex.

Mayor Peter Flannery said the work would be crucial to keep locals in jobs and to boost cashflow to the region.

“Our community and society more broadly is going through an unprecedented social and economic change, and it’s the job of all levels of government to do to whatever we can to position Australia for a bounce-back,” he said.

“This means major construction jobs will become even more pivotal to stimulate the economy, which is why Council’s expediting every job we can.”

Once completed, the South Pine complex will be home to at least 15 sporting clubs.

The work already under way will improve facilities for rugby union and touch football clubs as well as those using the indoor centre.

“We’ll be engaging with residents and local clubs about what they think can be achieved, I’ll certainly be encouraging locals to think big,” Div 9 Cr Cath Tonks said.

“I want this to become a hub of sports excellence for all of southeast Queensland.”

Meanwhile, rugby club The Pine Rivers Pumas will get a new home ground at Les Hughes Sports Complex while the Pine Rivers Rapids baseball club will get a new bullpen and equipment shed.

The Pumas existing clubhouse was badly damaged during a break-in last year and so the new facility would be a welcome addition.

South Pine Sports Complex at Brendale.

“The old rugby union clubhouse will be demolished, and the current baseball clubhouse will receive major upgrades to accommodate both sports under one roof,” Div 8 Cr Mick Gillam said.

“Each sport predominantly plays in different seasons with minimal crossover making it ideal for sharing of facilities.”

Pine Rivers Pumas president Amanda Oldfield said the club was absolutely rapt with the work being done.

“While we’re not able to get out and play right now, these upgrades will have a huge impact on how we run the club once the coronavirus settles and it’s safe again,” she said.

“We hope once this is all over, the new fields and clubhouse will help us expand our junior numbers and provide families with a much-needed outlet.”

Rapids president Sherie Hogan said these works were a bonus for the baseball club who was in need of upgrades.

“I can’t wait to see what our new clubhouse looks like once construction is complete and it should allow us to grow baseball in the region,” she said.

“We will all need a break from being couped up inside for so long once the coronavirus pandemic is over and baseball is a great way to get outside and exercise.”