The Rollingstone and District Community Association (RDCAI) will have vital repairs made to its flood-damaged field at the Community Centre after receiving $84,000 in funding.
The repairs at the club will be funded under the $20 million Community and Recreational Assets program, which was approved under Category D of the joint Commonwealth-Queensland Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) following the 2019 Monsoon Floods.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management David Littleproud said the funding demonstrates the cross-government commitment to supporting all facets of the region's recovery.
"Solidarity and community spirit are the key to recovery and sport can help with that," Minister Littleproud said.
"All levels of government have worked closely together to get these facilities up and running again to ensure they serve the community and surrounding region for years to come.
"As the impacts from our current disaster season continue to unfold, the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments will work together to ensure all impacted communities, whether it's fire, flood or cyclone, receive the recovery support they need."
Queensland Minister for Sport Mick de Brenni said DRFA was seeing facilities restored at approximately 45 not-for-profit sport and recreation organisations across the Townsville, Richmond, McKinlay, Flinders and Cloncurry council regions.
"North Queenslanders have overcome a lot in the last few years and its important that governments work together to help these communities recover.
"Organisations like Rollingstone and District Community Association bring our whole community together," Mr de Brenni said.
"Now is the perfect opportunity to make these repairs so that North Queenslanders can enjoy them as we slowly start to spend more time back in our communities.
RDCAI President Sue Von Wald said Pace Park is closed while workers top dress the whole park.
"We are leveling the entire area to ensure the safety of all park users, then a program of aerating, fertilising and weed management will be carried out," said Mrs Von Wald.
"The safety of all who use the park has always been our driving factor when applying funding, and the water inundation in February last year resulted in Pace Park becoming extremely rough, while the depletion of nutrients saw the park present in a very lackluster state.
"Once this work has been completed, Pace Park can be used more generally by all age groups for all manner of outdoor activities, in the knowledge that the park will be in as good a condition as any park in the Townsville region."
Mrs Von Wald also acknowledged the work undertaken by all involved from the Townsville City Council and Queensland Government including officers from the local Sport and Recreation Services which just goes to show what can be achieved when all levels of government work together.
For more information about the funding opportunities through the Department of Housing and Public Works, please contact your local Sport and Recreation Services advisor on 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or visit www.qld.gov.au
