Gold Coast has Qld’s most unfit residents as City struggles to find space for new footy fields

Gold Coasters are among the unfittest people in Queensland as the City faces a crisis. See what it is

Gold Coasters are among the unfittest in Queensland as the tourism capital faces a looming crisis to provide enough sporting fields for the population boom, research reveals.

The latest council plan update which considered the Gold Coast’s health and activity ranking shows just under 60 per cent of people are undertaking enough daily physical workouts.

Residents completing “sufficient physical activity” had dropped from 62.9 per cent to 59.3 per cent - the data covers 2019 through to 2022.

“The decrease has resulted in the Gold Coast being ranked seventh...in Queensland for physical activity, down from fifth in 2019-20,” the report said.

Councillors in a closed session with City officers have been warned “the growth of the city and property speculation” has made it difficult to secure land for public open space.

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Gold Coasters need to get serious about fitness -AllFuturePic.

Number crunching by officers showed the demand for sports parks in 2021 was 563ha but would increase to 813ha by 2041. Currently, there is a surplus of 10 hectares for the existing population.

But with the northern population boom and the city headed towards one million people along with no land added means “this will become a deficit of 239.4 hectares by 2041”.

To avoid being an estimated 600 football fields short of the needed space, the City would need develop facilities at a 116ha site at Stewarts Road, Pimpama along with Greenheart.

Deputy Mayor Donna Gates, who is based in the City’s north, said buying up more land was a priority for council and several sites have been identified.

“The council recently authorised officers to negotiate a list of purchases. This is in addition to the almost 257ha Greenheart site which will be the largest open space and recreational space ever developed by the city. It will cater for up to 4000 sports participants and spectators every weekend,” Cr Gates said.

Deputy Mayor Donna Gates — working on sporting solutions in the fast growing north of the city. Picture: Portia Large.

“For many years, the local clubs were the cornerstone of community, especially in northern Gold Coast where, until as recently as 2013, there were absolutely no community facilities. “The clubs continue to be pivotal in the development of our youth and the importance of fields and facilities is well recognised by council.”

Cr Gates said other options included shared use of schools grounds where several agreements were in place for those grounds to be used outside of school hours.

“Helensvale Little Athletics is now running at the Upper Coomera State College and many years ago we assisted the establishment of Little Athletics at the Ormeau Woods High School,” she said.

“Due to the explosion in female participation, there are real challenges for the city to deliver the female change rooms necessary at clubs right across the city.”

Greenheart will be a sprawling 241-hectare space between Robina and Merrimac, featuring vast open spaces, beautiful natural and cultural landscapes, an event quarter, recreational and educational precincts, and large scale sports facilities. Photo: Supplied.

Cr Gates admitted it was “an exciting time” for sport with the Paris 2024 Olympics along with planning underway for Brisbane 2032 - creating more pressure on limited spaces.

“These events will undoubtedly inspire participation, and it will be necessary to continue with acquisitions and improvements and focus on the importance of sport and recreation for the long term health and potential success of our city’s residents,” she said.

“We will also need to seek help from the State and Federal governments through grant programs and from the national team administrations to continue development at a grassroots level.”

Research shows 41 per cent of the north’s population is under 25 and 27 per cent under 15.

Cr Mark Hammel said City officers had begun a large amount of work analysing what land should be secured in Division One in the north.

A potential 85ha site at 396 Stanmore Road at Yatala was now being investigated for the film industry’s expansion - highlighting the competing interests.

“While it’s great that we have enough land at the moment, the report clearly says in the not too distant future that pendulum will change and will have a deficit of land for future sports fields,” he said.

Lifestyle committee chair Glenn Tozer is disappointed by the physical health report results.

Lifestyle committee chair Glenn Tozer — surprised at latest health and sports research for the Gold Coast. Picture: Glenn Campbell.

“There is no doubt the City is on a mission to raise the level of physical activity that our residents undertake,” he said.

“Whilst we have dropped just fractionally from 62 per cent to 59 per cent our population undertaking significant physical activity to maintain great public health, what troubles me is that we are actually seventh in local governments in Queensland.

“That’s not high enough. We have to do better than that. Some of the things that the council is undertaking to see that lift from seventh to much higher on the leader board amongst local governments in Queensland is our active and healthy program.

“We have one of the most prolific active and healthy programs across Queensland. We want more people from our local community to get involved in no cost or low cost programming across the city.”

Skater at the Pizzey Park Skatepark. Picture Glenn Hampson.

GOLD COAST HEALTH AND SPORTING GUIDE

Almost $377 million is spent by the City on parks, recreation and culture. Key areas include:

* more than $207 million in managing parks and natural areas, including 10 weekly mowing cuts during the peak growing season;

* almost $35 million in managing the City’s six major sports venues and eight aquatic centres;

* more than $24 million on community centres, planning and operating them;

* the active and healthy program across 40 weeks delivers 6040 activities;

Plans for Greenheart. Photo: Supplied.

Key projects as part of Go Gold Coast - providing places for people to be active:

*Greenheart - stage one started in May 2023, will provide an outdoor yoga facility, children’s playground and cafe. Will also create two full-sized lit football fields and kilometres of connected walking paths;

* Palm Beach Aquatic and Community Centre - re-opens later this year, warm water pool and learn to swim pool will be increased size, and new start of the art gym created;

* Pizzey Park - world class skate park built, and future projects include junior rugby league expansion and synthetic athletics track.

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Originally published as Gold Coast has Qld’s most unfit residents as City struggles to find space for new footy fields