YOUNG soccer players in Redland Bay have kicked a major goal after Redland City Council approved $120,000 in funding for a grass multi-sports field at Wednesday’s meeting.
The field, in Denholm Boulevard, Redland Bay, will allow the Victoria Point Magic Football Club juniors to practise on the grass surface after school.
Council will decide whether to allocate $60,000 from its operational budget savings and a further $60,000 from a $600,000 Weinam Creek Wetland Park fund.
The $120,000 multi-purpose field will take pride of place in a sports precinct, which will include the existing basketball court, a new dog off-leash park, a men’s shed and a barbecue area.
The field was in line with a $480,000 master plan to build parks and paths along Weinam Creek, from Collins Road to the ferry terminal in Meissner Street.
Charlie Buckler Sports Park is the only ground in Redland Bay to cater for field games and the suburb has no council grounds for soccer.
Nearby Sel Outridge Park, along the foreshore at Redland Bay, is for clubs to train at night during the week, while fixture matches are played at Charlie Buckler Park.
Redland Bay councillor Julie Talty said the lack of a soccer club in the southern part of the city led to many players joining clubs at Logan and Gold Coast.
Cr Talty said the existing surface at Denham Boulevard Park needed earthworks and turf to make it safe and to ensure the field was the correct size for all sports.
However, she said it would not rule out the southern end if the city one day getting a comprehensive sporting complex.
“There’s a shortage of fields in the southern part of the city which is why council has a policy to allow schools to open up their ovals for sports,” Cr Talty said.
Cr Mark Edwards, whose electorate covers parts of Redland Bay, said the 800-student Redland Bay State School had enthusiastically embraced the sports field proposal.
Victoria Point Magic Football Club president Adam Carmichael said he had 120 players in teams from under 5 to under 12 and the grounds would allow his club to expand.