New timelines reveal Browne Park redevelopment is set for completion in mid-2025

The Queensland Government’s latest prediction for when the $54m Browne Park redevelopment will be ready can be revealed as a respected sporting chief expresses frustration at ever-changing goal posts.

CQ Capras CEO Peter White talks about the latest update on the Browne Park redevelopment.

The on-again, off-again redevelopment of Rockhampton’s Browne Park has been pushed back by one year and is now due for completion by mid-2025, according to the state government.

The project has had a number of false starts since plans were first announced and funding committed four years ago, in September 2020.

Countless games have been touted as the “last to be played at Browne Park” before the redevelopment started.

A release on the Department of Tourism and Sport’s website dated February 13 of this year said the February 10 pre-season trial between the Dolphins and the CQ Capras was the last, despite the Capras underage teams playing at the venue a week later.

Keppel MP Brittany Lauga and Rockhampton MP Barry O’Rourke with then Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Treasurer Cameron Dick looking over the plans for the Browne Park redevelopment n March 2023.

The same department provided an update last week on the project, which was initially set to start in late 2022.

“Demolition works will start as soon as the main contract is awarded and approval of the infrastructure designation process, which are both imminent,” a department spokesperson said.

“Construction will create 170 jobs in the local community and is scheduled to commence in April 2024 and be completed by mid-2025.

“The Queensland Government has committed $54.326 million to the Stage 1 redevelopment of Browne Park to retain Rockhampton’s historic home of rugby league and give the city a first-class venue for major sporting, cultural and community events.

“The CQ Capras will relocate to Rugby Park as an alternative home while Stage 1 redevelopment of Browne Park occurs.”

Rockhampton Grammar School's Rugby Park will be the venue for CQ Capras home games while Browne Park is being redeveloped.

‘We are pretty much operating month to month, as we have done for the past 18 months’

The government doubled its financial commitment in March 2023 to $54 million for the Stage 1 redevelopment, which includes a new contemporary three-tier grandstand, change rooms, food and drink outlets, broadcast facilities and offices.

Capras CEO Peter White greeted the latest timelines with some reservation.

While excited about the planned redevelopment, he could not hide his frustration about the constant delays.

“At this stage, it’s another deadline that we will work towards,” he said.

“It’s been a moving target but we’ve just gotten on with it.

“We are pretty much operating month to month, as we have done for the past 18 months.”

Capras CEO Peter White said the constant delays on the redevelopment were frustrating.

‘This project will be a game changer’

Rob Crow from the Management of Browne Park said finalisation of the infrastructure designation had taken longer than anticipated.

“The many services involved in the design including civil engineering, structural, stormwater, food and beverage, acoustics, electrical, security, traffic, hydraulics, etc, to name a few, have at times required negotiation to abide by local and state government department standards in this $54.3 million project,” he said.

“It has been a long but thorough process which has led to the imminent announcement of the infrastructure designation, the awarding of the main contract and the commencement of demolition works.

“This project will be a game changer for Rockhampton and Central Queensland and will include 170 jobs in the local community using local tradies and suppliers.

“There will be a resulting economic boost for our area during construction and further economic benefits for years to come upon completion of Stage 2 of the project.”

A concept image of the redeveloped Browne Park.

Sporting facilities in other cities ‘far exceed’ those in Rockhampton - Wayne Bennett

Mr White said he was finalising negotiations around Rugby Park, where the majority of Capras home games would be played while work was underway at Browne Park.

The Rockhampton Grammar School owns the buildings at Rugby Park but leases the field areas from the Rockhampton Regional Council.

Mr White has been campaigning for its upgrade, maintaining it would be of benefit not only for his club and rugby league but other sports.

Rugby league icon Wayne Bennett backed the call, saying sporting facilities in other cities “far exceed” those in Rockhampton.

Mr White could not confirm when the Capras would play their first games at Rugby Park but said the lighting there would be upgraded to be compliant with Queensland Rugby League regulations.

The CQ Capras are set to play the majority of home games at Rugby Park while Browne Park is being redeveloped.

Rugby Park upgrade to leave ‘lasting legacy’

He was hopeful that would be done within the next month or two but dressing sheds would be an issue.

The Capras have six teams playing in statewide competitions - men, women, under-19 men and women and under-17 boys and girls - all of whom could play on the one day.

“We’re still only going to have two dressing sheds at Rugby Park,” he said.

“How we are going to get, on one day, up to 12 teams through the two knowing that 50 percent are male and 50 percent are female, I’m not quite sure.”

Mr Crow said the state government and the Queensland Rugby League were providing financial support for the lighting upgrade at Rugby Park, which would provide a “lasting legacy” post the completion of the Browne Park development.

He said fixtures in the Rockhampton junior and senior leagues, which were sometimes played at Browne Park, would be held at home grounds of the competing clubs.

Rob Crow from the Management of Browne Park.

‘It is mind-blowing that the regional capital... has sub-standard facilities’

Mr White likened Rugby Park to an amphitheatre, saying spectators would be able to sit on the hill and would be encouraged to bring in chairs, something that was not required at Browne Park.

He said the QRL had been very supportive and understanding around venues.

“They only know what we tell them and we only know what we know when we find out,” Mr White said.

“We’ve just had to get on with business as best we can under the circumstances.”

Mr White said the Capras were also looking to shore up training facilities for their senior and under-19 men’s teams, who regularly train at Browne Park.

The under-17 boys train at The Cathedral College, while the three female outfits train at Emmaus College.

Mr White said the long-awaited Browne Park upgrade fed into the broader issue of a lack of suitable sporting facilities in Rockhampton for almost all sports.

“It is mind-blowing that the regional capital that has such a high level of participation and success in a multitude of sporting codes has sub-standard facilities,” he said.

“Our young men and women deserve better, as do all the volunteers and coaching staff.

“Our community deserve better also.”

Originally published as New timelines reveal Browne Park redevelopment is set for completion in mid-2025