$54 million Browne Park redevelopment completion date pushed back to 2026

The $54 million Browne Park redevelopment project completion date has been pushed back to 2026, it can be revealed.

The $56 million redevelopment of Browne Park was well underway as of March 28, 2025 despite the completion date being pushed out by almost a year.

The embattled $54 million Browne Park redevelopment has again been pushed out, this time by almost a year.

The overhaul of the home of the CQ Capras will comprise 3500 new seats, a function centre and new broadcasting boxes.

The project was first announced and funding committed in September 2020 with an original finish date of mid-this year.

Queensland Olympic and Paralympic Games Minister Tim Mander revealed the date change during a whirlwind visit to the Beef Capital after the Premier announced the Olympic Games rowing was headed to Rockhampton.

Queensland Olympic and Paralympic Games Minister Tim Mander speaking, pictured with Rockhampton MP Donna Kirkland, Keppel MP Nigel Hutton and Mirani MP Glen Kelly, during his whirlwind trip to Rockhampton on March 28, 2025 after the Premier announced the Olympic Games rowing was headed to Rockhampton.

Mr Mander the Queensland Government’s investment into regional sports and their Games On! program.

Joined by Netball president Simone Hitchcock, CQ Capras player Tyler Szepanowski, Rockhampton MP Donna Kirkland, Rockhampton Mayor Tony Williams and other sport stakeholder, Mr Mander promoted the Games On! Program worth $250 million aimed to upgrade facilities for hundreds of grassroots community clubs in Queensland, with $42 million of that fund designated to be used for the creation of a Central Queensland Sporting Precinct in Rockhampton.

The $56 million redevelopment of Browne Park was well underway as of March 28, 2025 despite the completion date being pushed out by almost a year.

Stage one of the precinct will comprise of building a new home for Rockhampton netball teams and will be made up of 16 outdoor netball hardcourts, club houses, amenities and supporting infrastructure.

Eventually it is hoped the precinct will cater to other sports including athletics.

Ms Hitchcock, who represented Rockhampton’s netball scene, said the investment was much needed.

“The precinct for Rockhampton Netball is a huge investment and is really one that we need at the moment,” she said.

CQ Capras player Tyler Szepanowski, alongside Rockhampton MP Donna Kirkland, joined Queensland Olympic and Paralympic Games Minister Tim Mander at the $56 million Browne Park redevelopment during his whirlwind trip to Rockhampton on March 28, 2025.

“We have again a really high number of teams for our season and we are looking for further growth and are really excited about the opportunity we’re going to get to provide for our community in terms of involvement in netball and sports in general.”

Capra’s Szepanowski, who was born in Rockhampton, spoke positively about the influx in investment for sporting infrastructure.

“A lot of world class athletes are produced in Central Queensland and we are all very grateful for the upgrades to our facilities,” he said.

Talking of the Browne Park redevelopment, Mr Szepanowski said once completed it would be both a great place to play and watch sports.

Work on the demolition of the Jack Crow Stand at Rockhampton's Browne Park started on July 17, 2024. Photo: Pam McKay

Mr Mander toured Browne Park prior to the press conference and said the Queensland Government wants to ensure the availability of sports to all Queenslanders through the Games On! program.

“We want people, no matter where they live in Queensland to point at some floodlights, a new club house, a new dressing shed, a new field and say we got that because of the Olympic and Paralympic Games that are going to be in Queensland in 2032,” Mr Mander said.

Speaking of the future Central Queensland Sporting Precinct, Mr Mander said it’ll be a magnificent precinct that will involve more and more sports as it goes on.

A multimillion redevelopment of Rockhampton's Browne Park is underway. Photos: Luke Fletcher

“It’s another great opportunity for us to have the sporting infrastructure that Rockhampton deserves, being such a sporting city that it is, but not just Rocky but Central Queensland in general,” he said.

“Rockhampton is going to become one of the sports centers of Queensland.”

Ms Kirkland said she was delighted with all the work going into building local sporting infrastructure.

“Rockhampton is known to be the hub for sporting excellence in Central Queensland,” Ms Kirkland said.

“We are so excited to see the investment that continues to come towards Rockhampton, to Central Queensland.

“I know that there a number of different sporting codes that are going to be recipients of great things out in that precinct.

CQ Capras player Tyler Szepanowski. Photo: Luke Fletcher

“I can’t overstate how exciting it is to have so much infrastructure happening in our region because it means jobs, it means local employment, and it means local businesses getting contracts to build and to develop this precinct.”

Rockhampton Mayor Tony Williams said the investments were wonderful news for the community.

Originally published as $54 million Browne Park redevelopment completion date pushed back to 2026