Sunshine Coast Lightning won on the courts yesterday at the newly refurbished USC Stadium, thanks to a Palaszczuk Government $9 million contribution to women's sport.
Built by local Sunshine Coast company, Evans Built, engaging 500 tradies to deliver the project, the new stadium includes refurbished changing rooms, improved access for people with a disability, umpire rooms, a multi-purpose function room, public bathrooms, an upgraded audio-visual system and multi-purpose spaces for use by a range of sports such as basketball, volleyball, badminton and futsal.
Deputy Premier Jackie Trad, and patron of Lightning, said the expansion of the USC Stadium is testament to the success of Lightning as a club and also to the thousands of Queenslanders and visitors to the Sunshine Coast who want to come and experience all that the venue and the sport had to offer.
"This project shows that we are committing to not only backing women's sport but also delivering better facilities in a growing region like the Sunshine Coast – these projects support the local economy and local jobs," Ms Trad said.
"As a patron it was also fantastic to see the result over the weekend with Lightning coach, Noeline Taura, securing her 100th National League win last night."
Minister for Sport Mick de Brenni said he was proud to have such a strong partnership with Lightning, the USC and the Sunshine Coast Council, to help make this redevelopment happen.
"This is not just an investment in netball – from beginners to the elite level, but also an investment in the Sunshine Coast region itself - in its economy, through creating more jobs.
"It's also an investment in equality in our State. Now, more than ever, young girls will have more strong, talented sportswomen to look up to.
"This stadium will now attract a bigger range of major sporting competitions, cultural and community events and it will draw in more netballers, supporters and spectators from across the country.
"That's a massive boost for the 300,700 people who live here – and their families. There are more than 400 sport and recreation clubs on the Sunny Coast and the Palaszczuk Government also supports them as well.
"Since being elected in 2015, the Palaszczuk Government has created almost 200,000 jobs across our great state and we are determined to create more, through projects like the UCS Stadium upgrade," Mr de Brenni said.
