PLANNING for a sports precinct on 159 hectares of land at Mount Cotton has been given a $100,000 boost.
Redland City Council bought the property at 277-293 Heinemann Road in June last year. About a third of the land is to be used for sports and recreation and the rest preserved as a conversation area.
Visiting the site on Thursday, Sport Minister and Springwood MP Mick de Brenni said the Queensland government had approved $100,000 for council to develop a masterplan for sport and recreation at Mount Cotton.
“Mount Cotton is a growing area and the 159-hectare site is a perfect spot to create better public facilities for families in my electorate,” Mr de Brenni said.
“I’m all too aware of how far local families have to commute from Mount Cotton to access good sporting facilities.
“The Heinemann Road site is a greenfield site, so the Redland City Council can plan and create a new, modern, multi-sport precinct for their community.”
Mayor Karen Williams said the funding – provided under the Get Planning Spaces program – would help plan for sporting and recreation opportunities.
“Existing sports facilities are at capacity on Redlands Coast and we can now develop a strategic sport and recreation precinct plan for this Heinemann Road site,” Cr Williams said.
“This is a unique parcel of land with recreational potential and environmental values that will help meet some of the existing and future demand for sport and recreation facilities.
“It will also protect a significant area of natural habitat and provide strategic links with council-owned conservation land and potentially, in the future, to a broader trail network.”
Cr Williams said the funding would help council plan for facilities that could produce Queensland and Australian sports stars and allow people to keep active.
Redlands MP Kim Richards said she was pleased to see another investment from the Palaszczuk government to benefit families living in her electorate.
“I know just how good our local athletes are here in the Redlands,” Ms Richards said.
Mr de Brenni said he would release a sport and active recreation strategy next year.
“I want all Queenslanders to reach their healthy potential by finding a sport and active recreation they love, and planning for new and upgraded infrastructure is important,” Mr de Brenni said.
