- Replacement of Mitchelton Football Club’s synthetic field nears completion.
- The club was damaged by an extreme flooding event in 2022.
- $2.97 million in recovery funding provided by the Albanese and Palaszczuk Governments under the joint Community Recreational Assets Recovery & Resilience Program (CRARRP)
The new synthetic pitch at Mitchelton Football Club is almost ready for play.
Mitchelton Football Club’s synthetic playing surface was destroyed with rubber underlay and sand ballast lifting and rippling in the February 2022 floods.
Installing the new synthetic pitch included gluing and pinning the surface to lock-in edges and seams to make the field more resilient to future extreme weather.
Club equipment was lost, and many of the playing fields needed rehabilitation after flooding from Kedron Brook.
The clubhouse roof has also been replaced.
Almost $3 million has been invested in Mitchelton Football Club’s recovery by the Albanese and Palaszczuk Governments under the joint Community Recreational Assets Recovery & Resilience Program (CRARRP).
It’s part of $193.5 million in joint disaster recovery and resilience funding in response to major flood and rain events since late 2021 in Queensland.
Brisbane City Council has contributed an additional $1.2 million to the club’s recovery.
Most repair and replacement work at Mitchelton Football Club is due for completion by kick-off for the 2024 football season.
In November 2022, funding for 198 sites across 20 local government areas was announced with 82 projects either under construction or completed, including repairs to the Pine Rivers Golf Club and Brisbane City Football Club facilities.
Quotes attributable to Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt:
“It’s great to see communities bouncing back after the floods, and wonderful that Queenslanders can get back out and use these amazing facilities.
“The extent of the damage to the playing field after the floods was truly gobsmacking, and to see it in all its glory today is a great result.
“This program has helped a range of sporting groups get back on their feet, including here in Brisbane, Gympie and on the Sunshine Coast.”
Quotes attributable to Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe:
“The flood damage has been heartbreaking for players, coaches, volunteers and club officials, so it’s terrific to see Mitchelton Football Club getting back on its feet.
“Work swung into action after the floods to get fields back online ahead of a wider program of repair and replacement.
“The focus of this recovery effort is building back better and ensuring club infrastructure like the synthetic playing field is more resilient to future extreme weather events.
“Mitchelton Football Club has been an important part of this community for more than a century and we’re keen see that continue for at least another 100 years.”
Quotes attributable to Federal Sport Minister Anika Wells:
“The 2022 floods took a major toll on my electorate of Lilley, destroying homes, taking treasured possessions and wreaking havoc on sporting clubs like Mitchelton FC.
“This club is more than a host to games, it’s an intrinsic part of the community where friends are made and kids and adults alike reap the mental and physical benefits of sport.
“I’m proud that the Federal and State Governments have provided almost 3 million dollars to rebuild facilities at Mitchelton and help the people of Lilley revel in their passion for sport.”
Quotes attributable to Mitchelton Football Club President Rowan Hall:
“There’s no doubt we took an enormous hit when the flood waters swept through here last year, but the resilience of the members and supporters has shone through,” he said.
“Of course, the support from every level of government has been outstanding and we will not only get back on our feet to the level we were before the flood, we will have a much better facility for the community to enjoy.”
