Ipswich City Council commits more funding to Brisbane Lions stadium project at Springfield

Ipswich ratepayers will pick up another expensive tab for infrastructure at Springfield’s new Brisbane Lions stadium, bringing their total contribution to the project above $20 million.

Ipswich ratepayers will pick up another expensive tab for infrastructure at Springfield’s new Brisbane Lions stadium, bringing their total contribution to the project above $20 million.

Ipswich ratepayers will spend another $430,000 on costs associated with building a new stadium for the Brisbane Lions AFL club, bumping their total contribution over the $20 million-mark.

The facility was a huge boon for the region, with plans for it to house up to 10,000 spectators, bring hundreds of jobs and provide an ‘elite performance centre’ — the first of its kind in Australia to be designed with equal facilities for AFL and AFLW teams.

Previous negotiations between former Ipswich City Council CEO and the AFL club ended with a commitment for the parties to split the costs of installing signals at the entrances to the new $70 million Brighton Homes Arena, as well as at the oval opposite, down the middle.

The Springfield arena is not only intended to be the home-ground for the Brisbane Lions women’s team and a training centre and ground for both women and men, but may also host Brisbane Lions men’s games for a period of time while the Gabba is demolished and reconstructed between 2025 and 2029.

It will also serve as a venue for the Olympic Games in 2032 for modern pentathlon events, if they proceed, and provide state-of-the-art facilities for local sports, clubs, and the general Ipswich community.

AFLW Lions players Lily Postlethwaite and Nat Grinder check out the new $80 million-dollar training facility at Springfield on May 9, 2022. Picture: David Clark

Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the council’s commitment of more than $20 million included: $7.075 million to complete fit-for-purpose works on the main field, $9.046 million in developer contributions, and $4.554 million for the construction of the main field and buildings.

“Normally, the developer contribution funds would have been used to embellish the adjacent community football field for community use,” she said.

“The Lions have a financial obligation to embellish the second field and for it to be shared-use between the community and the Lions on game days and other selected days.”

During a recent ordinary meeting of council, Mayor Teresa Harding asked ICC general manager Sean Madigan if the council was “legally obligated” to commit the specified amount — $437,845 — to the project, to which he explained it was “not contractually bound” to.

“However, the fact that the (former) CEO executed that agreement, I think there’s probably a legal argument on both sides of the equation,” he said.

“Strictly speaking, our lawyers advised we could potentially get out of the agreement and not fund it but I think it would open us up to potential legal challenge …”

He said the signals must be installed at Eden Station Dr and the community oval opposite the arena “as soon as possible”.

The new home of Brisbane Lions’ AFLW team. Picture: File

As well as requesting the council pay its $437,845 share of the signal installation costs, Brisbane Lions has requested it pay its own $437,845 share. The club specified the second payment would be a loan it would pay back over a period of 10 years.

Brisbane Lions also asked that the council spend an additional $3 million on ‘implementing and operationalising’ the project.

“The BLFC (Brisbane Lions Football Club) have noted that there are a number of items requiring funding, in addition to the signalisation on Eden Station Dr, such as building mounted lights, lighting towers, public art, community childcare centre and scoreboard,” a report tabled at the council’s August meeting read.

Councillor Nicole Jonic asked council officer Mr Madigan if the AFL club had sought similar loans from other levels of government. He said the Lions had approached both the state and federal governments, as well as the AFL, for funding.

Ipswich City Council is the largest contributor to the stadium project to date, having committed more than $20 million while the state and federal governments have each committed $15 million.

Councillors voted unanimously during the August meeting to contribute $437,845 to the provision of signals and to consider paying the AFL’s equal share of funding, on the condition it be paid back over a ten-year period.

Sod turning of the Brisbane Lions' Brighton Homes Arena in Springfield.

The council also decided to consider contributing an additional $3 million to the club so it can meet additional costs necessary for the arena to operate including building mounted lights, lighting towers, public art, a community childcare centre, and a scoreboard.

Cr Jonic emphasised the council was merely considering the request and had not granted it.

“(The) council has already invested significantly in the project and has many grassroots sports desperately needing funds for their own requirements, be it clubrooms, fields or other equipment and facilities, and (the) council will have to decide what is most appropriate,” she said.

Brisbane Lions planner and general manager of infrastructure Jake Anson said the new stadium would house up to 10,000 spectators while the ‘elite performance centre’ — the first of its kind in Australia to be designed with equal facilities for AFL and AFLW teams — will foster development of the Lions’ men’s and women’s teams.

“A unique aspect of the precinct will see our fans provided with public access to gym, pool and wellness facilities. The facility will feature a state-of-the-art gym floor, five purpose-built group fitness studios, swimming pool, infra-red saunas, float tanks and more,” he said.

“An auditorium and spaces to support meetings and conferences within Brighton Homes Arena will support an expansion of our community education and school curriculum programs, drawing upon experience gained by studying best-practice community outreach programs operating both within Australia and overseas.”

Construction of the arena is expected to be completed next month. Picture: David Clark

Property consultant for the Lions, Urbis, found construction of the stadium and training facility would create 319 full-time jobs — 140 direct and 179 indirect — and add $67.8 million worth of benefits to the local and broader community.

When operating, the project is expected to deliver $30.1 million in added benefits to the community each year, as well as 785 full-time jobs — 334 direct and 451 indirect.

“The facility design will provide a range of education and meeting spaces that will be accessible to the community and help our club to meet the needs of our 35,000 match and 140,000 social members,” a recent Brisbane Lions report read.

The stadium and training centre will be owned by Ipswich City Council and leased to the AFL club, with works expected to be completed in October this year.

Originally published as Ipswich City Council commits more funding to Brisbane Lions stadium project at Springfield