Townsville Stadium

Townsville Stadium is a planned multi-purpose stadium to be built in South Townsville, Queensland, Australia.

History

As part of Australia's 2022 FIFA World Cup bid, an analysis of Townsville's existing Willows Sports Complex suggested a total redevelopment of the site and outlined key issues including the growth rate of the surrounding suburbs and incompatibility of hosting major events in an expanding residential centre, with limited public transport access. In August 2011, the Government of Queensland released a concept design for a new inner-city $185 million sporting stadium in South Townsville. The concept plan identified a 17.28 hectare parcel of land bounded by Saunders St and owned by QR National, as the ideal site for a new international standard stadium. The 30,000 seat stadium would include 100 open-air corporate boxes and 25 enclosed corporate suites. North Queensland Cowboys chairman Laurence Lancini supported the concept and said relocating the Cowboys' home ground to the inner-city site would not only benefit the club, but the city as a whole. Two months prior to the concept release, then-premier Anna Bligh had declared Townsville the capital of north Queensland and had outlined the importance of sporting events and entertainment in the Townsville Futures Plan.^[1] The following year saw Bligh and the Queensland Labor Party lose the 2012 Queensland state election which resulted in the Queensland Liberal National Party not adopting the Townsville Futures Plan.

The concept of a new Townsville stadium was again put on the agenda in the lead up to the 2015 Queensland state election. In December 2014, Queensland Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk promised the Queensland Labor Party would provide $100 million in funding for a new stadium in Townsville's central business district, should they win the election.^[2] In January 2015 then-premier Campbell Newman announced $150 million in funding for the same project that would be funded through the sale of state assets.^[3]

In April 2015, the Townsville City Council purchased the 17.28ha site in South Townsville with the hope that funding could be secured for the project in the near future.^[5] A visit from then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott a month later raised hopes as it was revealed that the federal Liberal National Party was investigating options for Commonwealth funding towards the stadium.^[6] Just three days later Treasurer Joe Hockey ruled out Commonwealth funding for the project.^[7]

The campaign to build a new stadium in Townsville received national exposure in October 2015 when the North Queensland Cowboys secured their first National Rugby League premiership. With millions watching on national television and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull standing on the same stage, Cowboys captain Jonathan Thurston expressed his belief that north Queensland deserved a new stadium.^[8] Following Thurston's speech, the campaign received an immense amount of media coverage. Three days after the Cowboys' 2015 NRL Grand Final win, it was revealed that club officials would travel to Canberra later that month to lobby for federal funding.^[9] On 3 November 2015 Bill Shorten and the federal Labor party promised $100 million towards funding the project.^[10]

On 10 June 2016 Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk committed an extra $40 million towards the project which upped the total state contribution to $140 million.^[11] Three days later Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull matched the federal Labor party's pledge of $100 million, essentially ensuring the project becomes a reality regardless of which major party wins the 2016 federal election.^[12]

Construction

Construction of the Townsville Stadium is expected to begin in May 2017, with completion expected prior to the beginning of the 2020 NRL season.^[13]

Name and nickname

In 2014 a funding proposal was released that suggested the stadium should officially be known as Stadium Northern Australia.^[14] One suggested nickname for the stadium is The House that JT Built, in reference to Johnathan Thurston's role in making the project a reality.

Transport

A new pedestrian bridge over Ross River from Blackwood St is the planned connection between the Townsville CBD and the stadium.^[15] A pedestrian bridge over Ross River already exists 200 metres south of the project site on Fletcher St. The Townsville railway station is located approximately 300 metres from the Fletcher St pedestrian bridge and 500 metres from the stadium site. Several bus stops also surround the site.

References