Construction work begins at Ballymore
Work has commenced on the construction of the new National Rugby Training Centre at Ballymore, incorporating the new McLean Stand.
It’s the first stage of a comprehensive redevelopment of the iconic Herston site that also includes plans for swimming and sport climbing facilities.
The $31.5 million National Rugby Training Centre replaces the old grandstand, which was demolished last year. The new stand will include seating for 3010 spectators.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk officially broke ground on the National Rugby Training Centre, with construction during the next 14 months being undertaken by Buildcorp.
Ballymore is the first Brisbane Olympic venue to commence construction, with the new-look facility to host Hockey during the 2032 Games. It could also be utilised as a training base for teams leading into the FIFA 2023 Women’s World Cup and the 2027 Rugby World Cup where Australia has been named the preferred candidate.
The rebirth of Ballymore will feature a new 3010-seat integrated grandstand with modern corporate facilities, a 700 square-metre gym, player rehabilitation area, 75-seat auditorium, 120-seat function room, change rooms and offices.
The NRTC has been designed by architects Blight Rayner to easily switch from high-performance centre to the centrepiece of a 15,000-capacity stadium.
The National Rugby Training Centre will be the headquarters for the Australian Women’s rugby team – the Wallaroos, and an elite training centre for the Queensland Reds men’s and women’s teams and the Reds Academy.
The ground will also host club grand finals, pre-season trials and potentially Reds games outside of the Super Rugby Pacific season.
The Ballymore masterplan was approved last month, with the QRU securing approval to build three new buildings at Ballymore, with a total of 5000m2 reserved for sports administration, sports recreation, allied health and sports medicine.
The works are being jointly funded by the Queensland Government and Federal Government, built by Buildcorp, supporting approximately 100 full-time construction jobs, with completion by early 2023.
