Business
17 December, 2024
Mixed reaction to Cazalys’ new club
REACTION to Cazalys buying Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park for a new community club and possibly an AFL ground for $10 million has been mixed on our Facebook page.
Last week the sports and community club announced the purchase of the park which has been closed for years since the 2020 pandemic.
Cazalys plan to use the existing structure to create a community club that would feature expansive kids’ club areas, a sports bar, affordable restaurant and café dining, as well as versatile spaces for functions and entertainment.
“Even though I’m a massive AFL girl and work in AFL, honestly this isn’t great. It had so much potential. It could have been used as an Indigenous community rehab or a camp to help our youth,” said Briony Pratt.
“Why the heck would we want that next to the Skyrail and the artillery museum? It will look horrible, not to mention all the surrounding rainforest. Will they clear that for an AFL field or an even bigger parking lot? They better bloody not,” said Dani Paterson.
Paul Matthews said it was a shame to see Tjapukai go. “It had so much potential as an Indigenous art centre, but let’s hope as an AFL site, a program to encourage Indigenous at-risk youth (and non-at-risk) to participate in this great sport. It could provide pathways to excellence,” he said.
Tivani Wongtongson said it should be turned into a community centre with affordable yoga and fitness classes, indoor rock climbing or bouldering, live music, local theatre, exhibitions, community events, creative arts and crafts space, free clothes exchange, repair workshop, cooking workshop, arts and music classes.
Craig Mann-Jones and Kylie Mackay were concerned there would be more poker machines and alcohol.
Tamara Srhoj said it was “huge” and would reshape that whole area.
