IT’S EIGHT years until the Brisbane Olympics, and Ipswich remains stranded with no solid plans for two key sporting facilities that would leave a legacy for generations of athletes in the talent-rich city.
Last week, the Liberal National Party made an announcement of $250 million to be invested into community sports infrastructure across Queensland in the lead-up to the 2032 Games, with a focus on the region’s grassroots sports.
The Games On! program represents what would be an Olympic and Paralympic legacy fund to boost participation in grassroots sport, injecting the funding into local clubs across the state for the sports infrastructure.
However, the need for a tartan track to be constructed at the University of Southern Queensland needs to become a reality in the lead-up to the world’s marquee sporting event, said Ipswich and District Athletics Club president Vic Pascoe.
“Our new season has just started, and we have over 210 registered athletes on the book,” Mr Pascoe said.
“Many of our young athletes will be eligible to compete at the Games in 2032.
“Having that tartan track would not only be a base for Ipswich-based athletes, but would encourage teams from Australia and overseas to train, and will help with the local economy.”
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the city needed funding to help construct these facilities as a sports-rich city.
“Sport is at the heart and soul of the Ipswich community, and as we lead up to the 2032 Games, having a commitment from the LNP for funding that would benefit our local clubs is certainly welcome,” she said.
“These are the sort of legacy projects the Council of Mayors (SEQ) fought for when they put the Games bid in.
“Over and over again, we continue to churn out top-tier sportsmen and women, yet unbelievably, we are overlooked again and again when the Queensland Government is handing out funding for sporting infrastructure.
“Serial record-breaker Gout Gout is undeniably Ipswich’s current standout sprinting star, who is being let down by Ipswich’s lack of a tartan track.”
Cr Harding said that expecting athletes to travel into Brisbane every day was not fair.
“They deserve greater support from the State Government, the ones making the decisions on where the funding goes,” she said.
“Our community is onboard, with the University of Southern Queensland and Bremer State High joining together to apply for the Queensland Government’s Go for Gold Fund, for an international standard tartan track.
“Showing our overwhelming need for a tartan track, the Ripley Valley State Secondary College also applied.
“Both were unsuccessful and once again, Ipswich is left out of gaining sporting infrastructure support.”
LNP leader David Crisafulli said Games On! would deliver a much-needed legacy across Queensland ahead of 2032.
