As we build towards our NRL entry in 2023, the Moreton Bay Region is set to become one of Australia’s leading locations for sporting excellence after the Commonwealth Government today pledged $15 million to assist in the delivery of a dedicated Rugby League Centre of Excellence at Redcliffe.
“By securing a strong economy we can guarantee funding for essential community facilities like this new Centre of Excellence in Redcliffe, which will support the Dolphins as they enter the NRL but importantly it will provide better training amenities for young boys and girls,” the Prime Minister said.
“The Dolphins have been the beating heart of Redcliffe since 1947 and I look forward to the club inspiring the entire local community and the next generation of players, just as rugby league greats Arthur Beetson, Petero Civoniceva and Daly Cherry-Evans have done.”
The Dolphins precinct already supports one of the biggest rugby league communities in Queensland, as well as hosting special events such as the Queensland Murri Carnival and the Women’s National Championships.
It recently became the first venue outside of Sydney to host the NRL Women’s Grand Final and will be the venue for some home matches of the new NRL franchise, the Dolphins.
Member for Petrie Luke Howarth said the Dolphins and sport more broadly played a critical role bringing the whole community together.
“Our commitment to partner with the Dolphins to make this Centre of Excellence a reality that will deliver benefits to communities across the region, providing them with access to world class facilities right here in Redcliffe,” Mr Howarth said.
This announcement formalises an agreement to build a Centre of Excellence at the precinct that will house facilities designed to grow the participation of female players in sport and strengthen elite pathways and training opportunities for men and women.
As an incorporated community association in the heart of the Moreton Bay and Brisbane’s north corridor, the Dolphins have worked with our partners to design what will be an iconic community asset that benefits the whole region.
It will present participants of each gender, from junior to elite skill level, access to integrated training and recovery facilities. Sports and allied health services co-located inside the Centre will be delivered in partnership with the University of Sunshine Coast.
The design of the Centre of Excellence will allow it to manage both communal and gender-specific facilities across its footprint, to allow collaboration between coaching, medical and administrative staff.
The new facility will follow the entry of the area’s first National Rugby League team, the Dolphins, and act as their future base after they debut in the major men’s competition next year.
Already the first steps have been taken to realise the ambition of a team in the NRL Women’s (NRLW) competition, building on our first U19s QRLW team which started this season.
“The club is committed to the diversification of the game and supporting the expansion of the National Rugby League Women’s competition and the pathways into the sport for women and girls,” said Dolphins’ chairman Bob Jones.
“In addition to the excitement of our first NRL team joining the competition next year, we have already established a pathway to the NRLW with the forming of our first Redcliffe Dolphins under-19s women’s team this season.”
“This facility will also provide new educational opportunities for those pursuing careers in the health and professional sporting sectors.”
“We thank the government for their commitment to improving the facilities of the Dolphins’ precinct to provide unprecedented opportunities and a true hub for the community.”
The Dolphins precinct and showpiece facility Moreton Daily Stadium is already established as a multi-sport venue, with national A League football team the Brisbane Roar using it as its home ground, while Touch Football’s annual State of Origin clashes have been played on the fields.
It also hosts a multitude of community events, including health and wellbeing expos, community fundraisers and disability inclusion events.
Construction of the Centre of Excellence is planned to commence at the end of 2023 NRL Season and to be completed by the end of the 2024 NRL Season, and will be a key facility within a broader masterplan being developed for the Dolphins 11-hectare Redcliffe site.
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