GBRA Stage 2 will deliver vital facilities supporting girls, people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and those from rural and remote areas to achieve their sporting aspirations.
Together with hosting great events that inspire our community,
we have a strong focus on participation, education and skills development.
Our growing regional population and central Queensland location sees Mackay ideally placed
to become a vital regional centre for community sports, education and training
from grassroots to elite levels, for people of all abilities.
Our vision is To Inspire Greatness.
With its large-scale multipurpose precinct and connection with a diverse range of popular sports, GBRA provides a perfect base for competition, camps, clinics, carnivals, education and training.
With Queensland’s own Olympic and Paralympic Games on the horizon, GBRA will play an important part in developing talent and bringing international competition to our region.
Great Barrier Reef Arena will be a place for all – from our local community to Australia’s sporting stars and international athletes.
Project Detail
Great Barrier Reef Arena (GBRA) Stage 2 is a pivotal development designed to enhance community, sporting, and educational infrastructure in Mackay and the greater region. The project will include all-abilities training facilities, community sports training facilities, four indoor high ball courts and advanced resources dedicated to promoting disability and women’s sports.
The project aims to address the needs of local community members through to elite athletes alike, providing a venue capable of hosting significant regional and international events. Strategically aligned with the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, the facilities are designed for use in pre-Games training, during the events, and as a lasting legacy to support ongoing community and elite sports development post-Olympics.
Educational initiatives, particularly in partnership with Central Queensland University, will focus on sports science and health, enriching the region’s academic and professional landscape while fostering substantial social and economic benefits.
Investment
The estimated total cost for GBRA Stage 2 is approximately $47 million. This figure includes comprehensive site preparations, external works, and detailed provisions for accessibility and inclusivity across the facilities.
Funding strategies involve seeking contributions from various government tiers, leveraging community support, and aligning with national sports and infrastructure development goals.
We have been successful in achieving $23,500,000 from the QLD government as a priority project in the recent state election. We are seeking to secure matching funding from the Federal Government to ensure this critical project for the region is achieved.
Impact
GBRA Stage 2 is set to profoundly impact the greater Mackay region by significantly boosting sports infrastructure, education, events attraction and community engagement. This development will create approximately 78 new jobs annually and stimulate substantial economic growth through both construction and ongoing operations. Addressing the severe lack of high ball courts in the region, the project will greatly enhance local sporting facilities, catering to basketball, netball, and a vast array of other indoor sports.
This initiative will meet a crucial demand for sporting venues, vastly improving the regional sports landscape. The project emphasizes inclusivity, with dedicated resources for disability sports and female athletes to ensure equal access to all. With the Brisbane 2032 Olympics on the horizon, GBRA Stage 2 is poised to serve as a venue for Olympic events and training, promising significant tourism and economic stimulus pre, during and after the games. The legacy of the Olympics will transform the arena into a lasting asset for the Mackay region, enhancing its capacity to host regional, state, national and international events, boosting local tourism and stimulating the economy.
The facilities will support a wide range of the community including local athletes, our aging population and local veterans, offering a venue for physical activity and community gatherings. This will enrich social cohesion and health, contributing to sustained economic vitality and enhanced quality of life across the community. Educational partnerships will enhance local academic offerings and support professional development in sports and health disciplines.
2032 OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC GAMES
Together, Stages 1 & 2 of the Great Barrier Reef Arena development provide new facilities in Mackay supporting the 2032 Olympic & Paralympic Games, athlete training, and preparation.
Significant opportunities for facility use include:
Pre-Games Period (2023-2032)
Paralympic and Olympic Games Period (2031-2032)
KEY SPORTS
The following Olympic & Paralympic sports have been identified as particularly suited to use of the GBRA Stage 1 & 2 facilities:
ECONOMIC IMPACT
Independent economic analysis provided by REMPLAN estimates the following economic impacts from GBRA Stage 2.
CONSTRUCTION
Total economic impacts in the Mackay Region over the two-year construction phase, including all direct and indirect economic effects, are anticipated to include:
Total economic impacts on the Queensland economy over the two-year construction phase, including all direct and indirect economic effects, and inclusive of the impact on the Mackay Region, are anticipated to include:
GBRA STAGE 2 OPERATIONS
Each year of operation will support:
CONSULTATION
Throughout the preliminary planning process, Harrup Park Country Club has engaged in extensive consultation with a range of stakeholders representing sports and community including:
This consultation has directly contributed to the identification of Stage 2 project need, development of project scope, preliminary design and projected levels of use in operation.
PROJECT NEED & PARTICIPANT USE
As illustrated in the investment logic map and facility usage table on the following pages, consultation has identified high levels of need among specific sporting and community groups, serving local, regional and state participation.
The primary sporting organisations and participants who will benefit from the GBRA Stage 2 facility are:
Projected use figures provided by these organisations indicates that the facility will serve an average of over 1,000 participants per week throughout the year from the first year of operation.
It will also attract additional events and spectators to Great Barrier Reef Arena, delivering significant economic impact for Mackay and region
