Centre of Ipswich better place for new synthetic track

I would love to see a track at Springfield but I would far rather see one close to the centre of Ipswich to better service the needs of our Ipswich community.

Athletics coach Stacey Taurima is lobbying for a synthetic track for the Springfield area. Picture: David Nielsen

YOUR SAY: I read with interest the comments of Stacey Taurima (QT, December 15) in relation to the provision of synthetic athletics facilities in southeast Queensland.

While it is certainly true that there are only currently nine such facilities, two of which are at QSAC which is the base for the Sports Academy, they support coaching and competition for some 250,000 athletes in any year. Most of these athletes are within the school system, from which our elite athletes potentially develop.

Stacey is correct in suggesting that other countries offer many more similar facilities to cater to the needs of their athletes, but there are few places in the world where, on a per capita basis, geography works against the provision and therefore usage of such facilities.

Currently the facilities at QSAC are in a state of redevelopment. One track has been brought back into service in recent months and the other is scheduled to be back in service by the end of 2017, weather permitting.

My involvement in athletics sees me regularly at this venue through the week and it is an unusual day when there are no athletes training under the stewardship of their coaches.

Of the tracks which are presently in use, three are within the campuses of universities, three are within the grounds of schools and the others are those already discussed at QSAC.

It is my understanding that the universities and schools are all agreeable to approach from athletes and coaches to permit the use of their facilities for training.

Yes it would be great to have a synthetic facility in Ipswich and yes the community of Springfield has expressed interest in the provision of such a facility attached either to their university campus or as part of a development, which would include the Australian Rules community.

While this would admirably satisfy the needs of Mr Taurima and his squad, it does little or nothing for the athletes who currently train at the Bill Paterson Oval on a facility which was developed by and is maintained by the Ipswich City Council.

Over the last several years, myself and others who have maintained a long-term interest in our sport have had regular discussions with the Ipswich City Council, both former and current administrations. Ipswich City Council is open to the possible provision of such a facility but has at this time failed to identify a site appropriate to its development for a range of reasons.

The outlay for such a facility together with training equipment and structural storage and service facilities runs into the millions and those who make these decisions need to be sure that they dot all the i's and cross all the t's before they commit.

I would love to see a track at Springfield but I would far rather see one close to the centre of Ipswich to better service the needs of our local Ipswich community.

Des Johnston

Originally published as Centre of Ipswich better place for new synthetic track