Yeehaw!: Cowboys commit to Cairns, spurred on by bi-partisan funding commitment
A re-elected Labor Government will match the LNP’s commitment to build a $15m high performance centre, paving the way for the city’s first national women’s sports team to take the field in 2027.
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A re-elected Labor government will match the LNP’s commitment to build a $15m high performance centre, paving the way for the city’s first national women’s sports team to take the field in 2027.
Once built, the centre will be used as the permanent headquarters and training facility for the North Queensland Cowboys’ NRLW team.
The election promise is a major step towards Cairns’ goal of becoming the capital of women’s sport in Australia, ALP candidate for Leichhardt Matt Smith said.
“I know firsthand the positive impact sport can have on an individual and the community,” the former Cairns Taipan said.
“Having a facility like this in the heart of Cairns will drive female participation in sport but also drive that sense of pride in our community.”
An elite training space for Queensland Academy of Sport and Pacific nations athletes will also be included at the facility.
Importantly, the centre of excellence will provide more women with a pathway into top-flight competition, Sport Minister Anika Wells said.
“Our $15m commitment will help inspire more (Cowboys playmaker) Tahlulah Tilletts, ensuring Cairns league juniors have a direct pathway to the NRLW,” Ms Wells said.
“Cairns is home to many of Queensland’s great male league players from Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to Justin Hodges, but this centre will help foster a generation of Cairns female league stars.”
The centre, which will be located at West Barlow Park, will include elite training facilities, swimming pool, an indoor and outdoor field for training and office space for the Cowboys and Pride.
Cowboys chairman Lewis Ramsay hailed the announcement as a landmark moment in the history of the club.
“Cairns and Far North Queensland has always been an enormously important region in the identity of the Cowboys and now it will also be home to our NRLW team,” Mr Ramsay said.
“The facility will provide high-performance infrastructure for female athletes, integrate allied health and community access features, and expand pathways for local talent – all while injecting millions into the local economy and creating jobs during construction and operation.”
The project, championed by Member for Cairns Michael Healy for the better part of a decade, is expected to bring $12.6 million to the local economy and create more than 60 new jobs.
“This facility is a game-changer for women’s rugby league in Far North Queensland,” Head of NRLW and Women’s Elite Pathways, Anita Creenaune said.
“Our goal is to inspire the next generation of young girls and all female athletes, boosting community cohesion and reminding people of the benefits of sport.
“Cairns has produced some of the best sporting talent anywhere in the country. This facility will give local girls and women the chance to train, grow and play at the highest level without having to leave home to do it.”
The Cowboys will invest an additional $10m into the project with a further $15m required to ensure the facility is equal to the men’s elite facility in Townsville.
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Originally published as Yeehaw!: Cowboys commit to Cairns, spurred on by bi-partisan funding commitment
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