Brothers Rugby Club to release new development plan after community feedback
Brothers Rugby Club is preparing a new set of plans for the $20 million revamp of their Albion base. The move comes after they received a large amount of community feedback to their proposal, which some residents feared would strip Crosby Park of its trees.
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Brothers Rugby Club will release a reworked plan for redevelopment of its base at Crosby Park, Albion.
Club CEO Matt Kaye said the club had received a “significant amount of feedback” during a community consultation period last month, after releasing a number of artist impressions and a draft version of the plans.
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The $20 million proposed revamp for club, which has 4000 members and was built 40 years ago, would include the resurfacing of two fields, construction of a new training facility and renovation of the clubhouse.
“We are still compiling all the feedback received from the community,” Mr Kaye said.
“Once we have studied all the data we will be able to reassess our concept designs for the upgrade.
“We have received a significant amount of feedback that the place is well and truly in need of an upgrade.
“We hope to complete this (new plan) in the very near future.
“Once the concept plans are updated we will engage with key stakeholders prior to lodgement of Development Application (with Brisbane City Council).”
Among those who provided feedback was a group of Albion residents concerned about the possible removal of mature trees at Crosby Park.
Group spokesman Annette O’Brien said the initial concept suggested a “vast number of trees” would have to be removed from the parkland, which is leased by the club from Brisbane City Council.
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“We are not against the redevelopment of the club and the adjacent facilities. They are long overdue for upgrading to meet the club and community expectations,” Ms O’Brien said.
“We are calling for a reassessment of that plan to reduce the footprint and take into consideration the pre-existing vegetation.”
She said the park was a rare oasis of green space in the rapidly-developing suburb and it should be protected. The group launched a petition that attracted 250 signatures in support of protecting the trees, she said.
A council spokesman said “the lessee is responsible for maintaining trees located within a leased area, however, permission must be sought from council to undertake any tree trimming or removals”.
“A Development Application or Improvement of Works application would be required for any proposed development on land leased from council.”
Mr Kaye said he had anticipated that there would be lots of feedback, which was why the club called for community consultation before lodging any formal development application.
“Crosby Park is a community facility leased by Brothers Rugby off the Brisbane City Council,” he said.
“We believed it was important to seek feedback from the community early so that the upgrades are consistent with the club’s needs and the community’s views. We are wanting to create a community social hub so it vital that the community voice their views.”
Ms O’Brien said the group was looking forward to seeing the new plans.
“Brothers have stated that at the close of consultation on February 15 they would consider all concerns documented and then redraft plans taking into consideration the issues raised. Hence we wait,” she said.
“We felt this development needed to be addressed and brought to the attention of our community. A public meeting was held on February 13, which attracted 29 very concerned citizens.
“The group was very concerned about the potential removal of any trees and reduction of green space. A resolution was passed with a majority vote that these plans would result in a massive loss of trees and are deemed unacceptable.
“A petition has been generated via Change. Org which has attracted 250 signatures to date.”
She said residents also raised more general concerns about the park. Recently, a large tree toppled over after a rain event, and was subsequently removed by council. Ms O’Brien said she had been told the tree would be replaced, but that had not yet occurred.
“We are also concerned about the amount of work council does on that park,” Ms O’Brien said.
“Brothers lease the land from council therefore council have control of the trees.
“There is evidence of council’s handiwork in recent jobs where several large trees were removed to improve the spectator mounds. There was no replanting by council at the time. I spoke with our local council arborist and he said that he would organise the transplant of two fig trees for the site soon. This has yet to happen.
“We need to monitor council’s inefficiency as well for the sake of the trees and our green space.”
Brothers Rugby Club’s original proposal would cost $20 million and take two years to complete.
As was reported at the time the plans were released, in December last year, the proposal states that it would be constructed over 24 months in stages:
Stage 1A includes:
Resurfacing of the existing sporting fields
Upgrading Field Two’s lighting
New seating for spectators.
Stage 1B includes:
A new game and training facility with all provisions required to meet Queensland Rugby Union premier rugby field of play standards, including but is not limited to: eight (8) unisex change rooms, medical facilities, a new and improved Club gym, and audiovisual provisions
Space for allied use tenancies, function facilities, kitchen space and extensive covered spectator seating and viewing areas
The repositioning and upgrade of the main Club parking facilities to achieve greater efficiency and more parking spaces overall.
Stage 2 includes:
Bar and function facilities, office space, meeting space, amenities, community use function rooms, a large canteen/kitchen with associated cafe space, upgraded sanitary facilities and extensive spectator seating
Potential commercial opportunities that could be food and beverage, health, sport and or recreation related.
The introduction of carparking spaces off Crosby Road to serve the ever-growing numbers of the Club and its extended community
Further repositioning and upgrading of the main Club parking facilities to achieve greater efficiency and more parking spaces overall.
“We are the biggest community rugby club in Australia without doubt,’’ Mr Kaye said.
“The financial model we think is sustainable to fund the development and the future sustainability of the club.”
Read how City North News sports editor Andrew Dawson covered the announcement in December here.
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