Works begin on $10 million Wynnum Manly Leagues Club redevelopment
Works have begun on a $10 million redevelopment to kickstart a new era for one of Brisbane’s major leagues clubs.
Southeast
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WORKS have begun on a $10 million redevelopment to kickstart a new era for a one of Brisbane’s major leagues clubs.
The Brisbane City Council recently approved a development application to give the Wynnum Manly Leagues Club its biggest facelift in its 40-year history despite some minor renovations over the past three years.
Construction for the development started last week with the main football field at Kougari Oval, the home of the Wynnum Manly Seagulls, being dug up as the rugby league club undergoes its first major upgrade to its famous grounds in more than two decades.
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Wynnum Manly Leagues Club chair Bruce Baxter said the improvements were designed to reflect the changing needs and expectations of the bayside community.
“Our club was founded more than 40 years ago when society was completely different,” Mr Baxter said.
“What people wanted and expected from a club today is very different to their expectations then. Community clubs should continue to evolve and reflect the community they operate within and call home.”
Mr Baxter said the $10 million redevelopment has been a long time coming and was needed so they could continue to have a positive impact in the bayside community.
With improvements to the football club already started, the works on the Leagues Club will not start until January and was scheduled to finish in November next year.
Upgrades will include a new wing to the club allowing for a front presence to the traffic, a new open planned cafe and dining area with live entertainment, plus a new start of the art gaming lounge as well as the main field at Kougari Oval moving 6m towards the famous Chook Pen.
While becoming a bigger and better entertainment destination, the redevelopment will also have a wider impact on the area with more than 40 jobs created at the completion of the works as well as local construction company BMD in charge of the project.
The club, which has contributed more than $5m to community organisations since 2015 and reached a record membership of 25,360, also hoped the rejuvenated facilities would help them to give more back to the bayside. Mr Baxter said the more successful the club was, the more it was able to give back to the community.
“We will help secure the future of the club well into the future and having donated more than $1.3 million back to the community last year, we believe we will be able to give much more once the renovation of the Leagues Club is complete,” he said.
“The role of community clubs can only be protected if the club reflects the community it is located in.”
Leagues Club CEO Craig Thomas the philosophy behind the vision and strategic direction of the club was to ensure all members of the community feel welcome and a sense of belonging at their local community club.
State Member for Lytton Joan Pease said she believed the renovations would provide a major boost to the community.
Local businessman, Mark Beitz – the managing director of Bartons car dealership, said he was pleased to see the development start and was excited by the Leagues Club’s plans to invest more back into the bayside community.
He also said it was an exciting time for the area with several major developments happening.
“One of the biggest talking points is that it will ensure that many locals reconsider leaving the area for quality club facilities and spend their time and money in our community,” Beitz said.
In addition you add the recent redevelopment of the Waterloo precinct, the cinemas and the residential developments are now coming on to the market. It can only add stimulus to consumers and confidence to retailers to reinvest into the community.
“Being a Wynnum local born and bred I have to say, it is about time, it’s very exciting.”
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