Mackay Hockey Association to receive $1.5m from Labor or $800k from LNP

Days after the LNP committed hundreds of thousands to a regional Qld hockey club, Labor have almost doubled their pledge in a move one LNP candidate called ‘foolish’ - but the club is cheering.

Whoever wins the state seat of Mackay in October, one hockey club will be coming out on top.

The Mackay Hockey Association, who received an LNP election commitment of $800,000 on September 27 have had that commitment almost doubled by Labor who promise to kick in $1.5m to a new indoor hockey centre if re-elected.

Mackay Labor candidate Belinda Hassan said she played hockey on the club fields as a child and was proud to announce the funding.

Mackay Hockey Association treasurer Melissa Sorensen said she was ecstatic about the new money from Labor. Photo: Fergus Gregg

“We hadn’t considered it … I hadn’t received a proposal from them prior,” Ms Hassan said.

Ms Hassan said after she was contacted by media asking if she would match the LNP’s commitment, she took a look at the proposal.

“I know how hard it is for small clubs to be able to raise that money,” Ms Hassan said.

“We felt it would be money better spent to fund the entire project.”

Mackay LNP candidate (front left) and Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox (front right) pose with members of Hockey Mackay after announcing $800,000 in funding for a new indoor facility. Picture: Hockey Mackay Facebook

The LNP commitment of $800,000 was estimated by the Mackay Hockey Association who had a costing of $1.2m for the new facility and were prepared to contribute $400,000 of their own funds.

LNP candidate Nigel Dalton confirmed those numbers and said “that seems like what they need and we will be supplying that”.

“They deserve everything they can possibly get, but they don’t need anymore than they ask for.
“That would be foolish.”

Nigel Dalton said giving the club more money than it asked for would be “foolish”. Photo: Fergus Gregg

According to Mackay Hockey Association treasurer Melissa Sorensen the new money will go toward adding a second floor to the facility.

“It’s an amazing commitment from Labor,” Ms Sorensen said.

“That money can be spent elsewhere … junior development is huge in our region and heading to 2032 we wanna grow on the eight Olympians we’ve already put forward.”

To Mr Dalton the money represents Labor overspending.

“That’s where Labor go wrong so often,” he said.

“We will work harder for Qld in every aspect but it won’t be funding things which don’t need to be funded.”

Originally published as Mackay Hockey Association to receive $1.5m from Labor or $800k from LNP