Anger after four-day mega state netball carnival damages Graceville park

Westsiders are furious after a park was left a boggy mess during a four-day netball carnival involving 2000 players. Organisers will have to pay for re-turfing, but some residents and a councillor say such a large event should never have gone ahead at the site.

Westsiders are furious after sections of a park were left a boggy mess during a four-day netball carnival which attracted 2000 players.

Graceville residents and their local councillor, who for years have been battling noise, parking and traffic concerns at the Western Districts Netball Association (WDNA) site at Faulkner Park, say their calls to host the event elsewhere or spread it across several venues went unanswered.

They also raised concerns about overflow parking at nearby Gordon Thomson Park because of constant rain which had made it impossible for Council to mow.

That park was later closed and organisers had to issue refunds for parking pass holders.

One resident, who declined to be named, said last year’s junior state titles were spread across multiple locations in Townsville to minimise the impact and spread the benefits.

A public park was turned into a mud hole.

She and Tennyson ward Councillor Nicole Johnston also claimed they were not properly consulted by Council.

Tennyson ward Councillor Nicole Johnston said she had repeatedly raised the “unsuitability’’ of Faulkner Park with Council and was told about traffic and other arrangements only after they had been agreed upon.

“Small suburban netball courts are not a suitable venue for a major state carnival,’’ Cr Johnston said.

“Neither Netball Queensland nor Brisbane City Council adequately planned to manage the impacts on our local parks and community.

“Now there has been significant damage to Faulkner Park due to the wet weather, as well as unnecessary disruption to local residents.

“There needs to be some reasonable limits to the size of events at suburban sporting facilities.’’

WDNA and Netball Queensland were contacted for comment.

A huge amount of temporary marquees were set up.

WDNA warned participants in a post on its Facebook page to watch out for Council inspectors.

“In true state age fashion, the grounds are getting wet and muddy,’’ it read. ️

“While it does look like fun to dance around in the rain (and mud) like Tay Tay (singer Taylor Swift), we please ask you to make sure you come prepared with gumboots, raincoats and towels to help stay as clean and dry as possible.

“Just a reminder to please be considerate of our neighbours when parking in the vicinity for senior state age.

“The Council will be out in force issuing infringement notices.’’

It was understood Council required the organisers to pay to repair any damage to its parks and required them to notify residents about street closures, event information and other details.

“Events held at a purpose-built sports facility do not require an event permit from Council,’’ a spokeswoman said.

Gordon Thomson Park was already waterlogged before the carnival kicked off.

“Netball Queensland was required by Council to ensure appropriate traffic management controls were in place for the entire event.

“This included Netball Queensland making arrangements for shuttle buses and traffic controllers to minimise traffic impacts, with overflow parking provided by Council in both Faulkner Park and nearby Gordon Thomson Park.

“Council actively patrolled the event area to ensure attendees parked safely, with anyone caught doing the wrong thing asked to move their vehicle or fined.’’

The resident acknowledged the parking marshalls did a good job.

But she said however that some attendees parked across driveways, some teams practised on the streets or even in people’s front yards.

A post on the WDNA Facebook page urging fans and players to be considerate of neighbours.

“There were people all over our street training and they set up chairs and tents,’’ she said.

“I can’t believe how Council would have allowed this.’’

The 2024 senior age championship was presided over by 198 officials, with 55 associations taking part, including Kingaroy for the first time.

The event, which coincided with WDNA’s 50th anniversary, included a record 13 boys’ teams, almost double last year, and 185 girls teams — 14 more than in 2023.

The Grasshoppers Netball Club from Fiji and a First Nations Academy of Excellence team were invitational entries.

The event ran from last Thursday until yesterday, April 9, with 1535 matches played.