Wayne Bennett says facilities in other cities ‘far exceed’ what he sees in Rockhampton

Capras’ CEO Peter White calls for venue’s redevelopment to be fast-tracked with Browne Park soon to be out of action for 18 months.

CQ Capras' CEO Peter White (left) discusses the Rugby Park redevelopment plans with Dolphins' head coach Wayne Bennett.

CQ Capras’ CEO Peter White is calling for the redevelopment of Rockhampton Grammar School’s Rugby Park to be fast-tracked.

The city’s rugby league headquarters, Browne Park, will undergo a $25 million revamp from October next year, to be completed by early 2024.

During the 18-month project, the clubs and teams that use it will need a new venue on which to train and play.

White said Rugby Park offered the ideal solution, and its redevelopment would also ensure Rockhampton no longer missed out on hosting state carnivals due, in part, to a lack of female-compliant dressing sheds.

Legendary rugby league coach Wayne Bennett supported the call for Rockhampton’s sporting facilities to be upgraded.

CQ Capras' CEO Peter White (left) discusses the Rugby Park redevelopment plans with Dolphins' head coach Wayne Bennett.

In the city last week for the announcement of his NRL club the Dolphins’ full affiliation with the Capras, he said the city deserved better facilities.

“I’ve travelled the state over a period of years and some of the facilities I’ve seen in other cities, whether it’s Townsville, Cairns, recently on the Gold Coast, far exceed what I see here in Rockhampton,” he said.

“I just can’t understand why that hasn’t happened because it’s a great sporting part of Australia and we’ve had many champions here across many disciplines.

“It’s just a bit hard for me to fathom why they just haven’t updated their facilities - the councils, the governments - as they have in other towns.

“I think they’re worthy of world-class facilities because a lot of other cities have them.”

White said something had to be done - and quickly - with the temporary shutdown of Browne Park looming.

“We need action, and we’re calling on relevant bodies to help us out,” he said.

Crowds at one of the NRL games played at Browne Park this year.

“The clock is really ticking for us to get off Browne Park - and it’s not just us, it’s going to be junior rugby league, senior rugby league, as well as secondary and primary school football as well.

“We need a facility to go to, we need facilities to train.

“Browne Park’s heavily used - there’s up to 72 games and 28 training sessions in a month which means it would be the most used football field in Australia, I dare say.”

White insisted it was not just about rugby league but the broader community.

“All these eastern seaboard regional cities all have tartan running tracks, they all have multi-purpose facilities, they can host state carnivals and that’s why they get them,” he said.

“Rockhampton keeps missing out.

Plans are in the works for the redevelopment of Rockhampton Grammar School's Rugby Park.

“There’s an opportunity now to rectify that, to get state carnivals here and that’s for all sports, not just rugby league.

“We believe Rugby Park gives us an opportunity to at least put our hand up for those sorts of opportunities.”

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

White said the CQ Capras were looking to partner with Rockhampton Grammar with either a sub-lease or a licence agreement to “co-exist and share the facility”.

Long term master plan for Rugby Park by Thomson Adsett.

The final master plan for the Rugby Park redevelopment includes a synthetic running track, $3.5 multipurpose community building, extra sporting field, lighting upgrades and flood proofing.

The first stage includes a third rectangular sporting field, and two-level multi-purpose building with dressing rooms, female facilities, umpires room, canteen, meeting, offices, function space and viewing deck.

Rockhampton Grammar plans to fund all the project work independently.

A Rockhampton Grammar spokesperson said the school was continuing negotiations with the council regarding the lease of Rugby Park.

“The school is unable to confirm development timeframes until the lease is finalised.

CQ Capras' CEO and Dolphins' CEO Terry Reader and head coach Wayne Bennett look over Rockhampton Grammar School’s Rugby Park.

“Further development of Rugby Park would be a significant enhancement for the sporting facilities in Rockhampton.”

The council has been contacted for comment.

Bennett was amazed that Rockhampton had no female-compliant dressing rooms.

“We’ve all seen the growth in women’s sport and it’s a bit hard to believe there’s not one facility here in this wonderful city that has a place where women can have a change room,” he said.

“I think they’ve got to come together on it and make it do-able in the next 12 to 18 months.

“The time is now, the world’s changing and sport’s a big part of what’s changing and facilities are also a part of that.”

Originally published as Wayne Bennett says facilities in other cities ‘far exceed’ what he sees in Rockhampton