Mackay's Harrop Park set for upgrade following funding announcement
Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay will be redeveloped, following confirmation of $10 million in state government funding to get the ball rolling.
The project was included in a list of 12 initiatives as part of the government's Mackay Whitsunday Regional Recovery Action Plan recently announced. It follows a $10 million grant from the federal government back in March 2019.
The $25 million project will include a new facility on the northern end of the main oval with permanent grandstand seating for 2000 spectators, media and broadcast facilities for cricket and AFL, purpose-built facilities for players and officials and corporate and event facilities.
The upgraded facilities will meet national and international sporting event requirements, allowing the Mackay venue to host more major events.
The upgrade will also help create a year-round community destination at Harrop Park with improved greenspace and public domain with facilities able to accommodate music and cultural events, interconnecting walking tracks, new food and beverage outlets and a community event plaza.
Located at the Harrup Park Country Club, Great Barrier Reef Arena has hosted women’s BBL, a Gold Coast Suns AFLW game and pre-season AFL matches.
Its hoped construction will commence in 2021 and be completed by June 2023, with the redevelopment to boost the venue’s capacity to in excess of 9000.
Once complete, authorities believe it’ll be one of the nation's premiere boutique sporting venues, capable of hosting Big Bash, Women's Big Bash, AFL, AFLW and international cricket formats.
