Community
5 March, 2025
Sporting focus on sugar town
A $15.3 million sport and recreation master plan for Gordonvale covering two precincts has been signed off by Cairns Regional Council – subject to final community consultation.
The precinct covers about 60ha, and includes Alley Park, the adjacent golf and turf clubs, and undeveloped land on the western side parallel to the Bruce Highway.
It is divided into two precincts – eastern, which includes Alley Park off Sheppards St and the racecourse, and the western site next to the highway, west of Gordonvale State High School and running south to the golf club’s northern boundary.
The western precinct includes:
Three new rectangular fields and associated amenities for soccer. The sport is currently at Johnson Park which is unable to handle a senior side at this location
Six new tennis courts and associated amenities. The tennis courts at Norman Park will be demolished to create a large event space in the centre of town
Combined clubhouse for tennis and soccer
Park Run route and extensive wildlife corridor
Public amenities
The eastern precinct includes:
An additional fourth rectangular field at Alley Park for rugby league and touch
Lighting upgrade of rectangular fields
Grandstand upgrade
Future expansion of the aquatic facility.
The upgraded grandstand is expected to cost $3.2m in addition to the $15.3m while the aquatic centre has not been costed.
“The Gordonvale Sport and Recreation Masterplan responds to the community’s need for appropriate sporting facilities, projected population growth, feedback from existing and future user groups and sets out the development priorities for a large section of community purpose land located within the southern growth corridor,” a council report said. “There is $900,000 in 2027/28 of the 10-year capital works program for improvements to lighting at Alley Park (priority 1) and $1.5m in 2030/31 to implement priority 2 – an additional rectangular field.
Cr Brett Moller (Div. 1) said it was an “exciting” project for the community which had been on the books since the early 2000s.
He said it would create “vibrancy” for Gordonvale and become a “destination sporting facility”.
Cr Moller said it would also allow sporting groups to share facilities.
