Firth Park netball courts $20m upgrade: Hinterland District Netball Association season cut short
A Gold Coast sports club has been told its season will be cut short as council fast tracks a $20 million upgrade to its facilities.
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A Gold Coast sports club has been told its season will be cut short as council fast tracks a $20 million upgrade to its facilities.
Gold Coast City Council (GCCC) closed the remaining netball courts at Firth Park in Mudgeeraba after deeming the courts unsafe following the “destruction” of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
In 2022, the GCCC announced it would be transforming Firth Park into a major sporting hub, boasting 24 new fully lit netball courts, eventually a pump park and four dual-use AFL and cricket fields.
Due to ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which caused damage to the netball courts, GCCC said the completion date would be sooner than expected.
A section of the $20 million upgrade is now scheduled to open in May, with the final stage earmarked for completion by early 2026.
“The new courts under construction were also damaged and are now being assessed by the contractor to provide a revised completion date,” a GCCC spokesman said.
“The City is working closely with the affected netball clubs and will provide them with an updated opening date as soon as it is known.
“Once the new courts have been completed, construction on the existing courts will begin to bring them up to contemporary standards.”
Division 9 councillor Glenn Tozer said, while it was “disappointing” the autumn season of the Hinterland District Netball Association was cut short, the investment was an “exciting development”.
“It’s meant we can forge ahead more quickly with our delivery of the new fully lit and shaded 24 netball courts, designed to attract national and state netball events, as well as be an asset local netballers can be really proud of,” he said.
“The next netball season will be back, weather permitting, in May or June 2025.”
On Monday, the Hinterland District Netball Association shared photos of the ravaged courts after the cyclone.
“While it’s disappointing we can’t be playing on our courts, on a positive note it’s great to see the construction team have already begun working on the Alfred damaged eight courts and super exciting to see the shade areas being erected on the new courts,” they posted on Facebook.
On March 14, the association posted an “important message” to Facebook, sharing that cyclone Alfred had left a lot of “hidden destruction” underneath eight of the courts.
“After a safety assessment was undertaken these courts have been deemed unsafe to play on,” they said.
“We understand this is not ideal for our members, however, we need to embrace that we will soon have 24 brand new courts to play on and while Alfred has paused us, he will not stop us.”
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Originally published as Firth Park netball courts $20m upgrade: Hinterland District Netball Association season cut short
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