Capricorn Enterprise welcomes announcement of $23 million for Rocky Stadium

Posted on September 15th, 2020

Capricorn Enterprise welcomed the Member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry’s announcement of $23 million to advance the Rockhampton Stadium at Victoria Park within the Rocky Sports Club space.

Capricorn Enterprise CEO, Mary Carroll extended her thanks to former CQ NRL Bid chairman Geoff Murphy whose passion first drove this project when the bid was launched in March 2009.  Despite a number of challenges over the years, yesterday’s announcement reflected the consistent lobbying by many to see this Regional Priority Project come to fruition.

“As a Regional Priority Project since 2010, this investment commitment was a further step forward to delivering the stadium for the broader Central Queensland community, that will attract sporting events and jobs to our region,” Mary said.  

“We congratulate Gavin Shuker and the Rocky Sports Club team who took over the decade-long baton of advocacy and influence to advance this major landmark for Central Queensland and turn the vision into reality.”

“This is an incredible announcement for our destination, and we are grateful to the federal government for their significant contribution to this community asset which will contribute to the local area’s long-term economic and social structure. I would hope that our political and business leaders will collaborate to get behind this new development, which will further enhance not only Rockhampton, but the entire region.”  

Following a federally-funded ($250,000) feasibility study conducted in 2013/14 by global stadium design experts, Populous, which considered stadium trends and world-wide benchmarking, it was found that the Lion Creek Road (Rocky Sports Club site) premises was the preferred site, perfectly suited as the essential ingredient in the urban matrix pulling the community together. 

As a key Priority Initiative for the region since 2010, ten potential sites were highlighted by the CQ NRL Bid Team for investigation by Populous, with constraints and risks taken into consideration. These sites included Yeppoon, Parkhurst, Central Queensland University, Jardine Park, Kershaw Gardens, Lakes Creek Road, Aurizon CBD Site, Rosel Park, Browne Park, Rockhampton CBD and the Showgrounds Precinct.

It was found that the Showgrounds Precinct with three options in order of priority, named the site now known as the Rocky Sports Club as the best opportunity for positioning a new $20 million stadium, which will have the ability to cater for 16,000 people and indoor conference facilities for up to 1000.

Contrary to some of the concerns which have been raised about the site including flooding, land fill and maintenance costs, all of those issues were investigated as part of the feasibility study with some of the findings outlined below…    

• The State Government Environmental Land Register revealed that the land is not considered contaminated.  It is understood that some of the most significant stadiums in the world are built on land fill sites, such as Optus Stadium, SCG, Suncorp Stadium and Redcliffe Stadium.
• The field previously flooded however, a one-way valve system has been installed to stop flooding coming up through the storm water drain, with water never having broken the bank on Huish Drive.
• Maintenance costs are the responsibility of the Rocky Sports Club and is not an ongoing cost to ratepayers or taxpayers.

Complementing economic growth, social issues, environmental impact, long-term community benefit, together with many other factors, the establishment of the multi-purpose venue at Rocky Sports Club, will deliver a sports and entertainment precinct, which will provide an active lifestyle precinct that attracts visitors and encourages crowds to stay longer.

Capricorn Enterprise CEO Mary Carroll said that the stadium’s ideal geographical location, on the fringe of the Rockhampton CBD, will be a major landmark for Central Queensland, and will set the benchmark for regional Australian Multi-purpose venues.

“The construction of the ‘Rocky Stadium’ will release the shackles for the region’s ability and capability to host major events, providing enormous economic benefits for the community, and will build upon the existing facilities in the city,” Mary said.

“With the Rockhampton CBD only a leisurely 12-minute stroll along the bank of the beautiful Fitzroy River, and surrounded by 15 quality hotels and apartment complexes located within one kilometre, the Victoria Park location is a perfectly suited venue for this type of infrastructure.”

Rocky Sports Club General Manager, Jack Hughes believes that the establishment of the new football and entertainment stadium will cement the already popular Club as the ‘go to’ venue for entertainment and community spirit.

“From Rugby League and Rugby Union to Touch Football and Soccer, the Rocky Sports Club is already home to an array of sporting codes, with the proposed stadium allowing for many other sports to be hosted including bull-riding, boxing, motorcross and more. The stadium’s geographical location sits within a precinct that is home to some 21 different sporting codes,” Jack said.

“Rocky Sports Club currently works with 76 clubs, events and associations annually, and is a venue focussed on supporting the broader local community – a hub for support, fundraising, entertainment and sport.”

The stadium construction phase will create up to 67 full-time jobs and inject over $44 million into the local economy. “Whilst Capricorn Enterprise supports an upgrade to Browne Park, adjacent to the Rockhampton Leagues Club, our organisation has always supported a new stadium at the Rocky Sports Club site, which would cater for future growth, based on the 2014 findings in the expert Populous report,” Mary said.

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