Community
5 December, 2024
Tjapukai to become an AFL club
CAZALYS has bought Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park at Caravonica and will use the existing premises to create a leading community and AFL club in a deal worth $10 million.
Cazalys Group general manager Jason Wale said plans were underway to create a club that would service the Northern Beaches of Cains which had been without a community hub
“We will begin to announce our plans for the site and work towards all required planning approvals. We plan to make use of the existing structure,” he said.
“This is exciting news for the region and we look forward to working with the wider community to bring this goal to reality.”
Mr Wale said Cazalys had taken ownership of the site with the goal of adding 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.
“The origins of Cazalys emerged almost 70 years ago when a group of Cairns locals joined together to commence Australian rules football in our region,” he said.
“The first Cazalys social club was established to help fund AFL. Cazalys has never deviated from that path of operating to fund the development of sport and the community. This next step for our club at Smithfield furthers that history.
“For more than 40 years, Cazalys has built community hubs that have supported the growth of sport in the wider Cairns region and provided people with places to meet and to socialise.
“Supporting the community and promoting sport have always been our core objectives. We are grateful for the support of more than 30,000 members in these goals.”
