- The Crisafulli Government is delivering a lasting community sporting legacy on the Sunshine Coast as part of the Sunshine Coast Stadium upgrade for the 2032 Games and beyond.
- Community sporting clubs will benefit from new and upgraded facilities while construction is underway, ensuring no community is left behind.
- The Sunshine Coast Falcons will be temporarily relocated to upgraded local facilities, while the Kawana Dolphins Senior Rugby League Club will receive a brand-new clubhouse.
- Meridan Fields community sports complex will receive upgraded field lighting, game-day infrastructure and spectator facilities.
Local Sunshine Coast sporting clubs will benefit from new and improved facilities, as works are set to start on the upgrade of Sunshine Coast Stadium for 2032 and beyond later this year.
The Crisafulli Government has approved a $9 million program to support community sporting organisations who need to relocate while the upgrade being delivered by the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA) is underway.
As part of the local upgrades, the Crisafulli Government will deliver a new clubhouse for the Kawana Dolphins Senior Rugby League Club, upgrades to the Meridan Fields community sports complex, and temporary accommodation for sporting organisations impacted during construction.
The Crisafulli Government is ensuring Queensland's Olympic and Paralympic preparations deliver lasting benefits for local communities, reversing years of Labor's Games chaos with a clear plan that leaves a legacy for generations to come.
Unlike Labor's failed approach in the 1200 days of Games chaos, the Crisafulli Government is delivering permanent legacy infrastructure that will continue serving Queenslanders long after the Olympic flame is extinguished.
The Sunshine Coast Falcons Rugby League Club, currently headquartered at Sunshine Coast Stadium, will temporarily relocate following the 2026 Hostplus Cup season to enable construction to commence.
For the 2027 season, the Falcons will play at the nearby Meridan Fields community sports complex, which will receive upgraded field lighting, timekeeping and game filming facilities, new goal posts and temporary spectator seating.
For the 2028 and 2029 seasons, the Falcons will relocate to the Kawana Dolphins Senior Rugby League Club, which will receive a brand-new clubhouse creating a permanent asset for the local sporting community.
Several sporting organisations currently based at Sunshine Coast Stadium will also be temporarily accommodated within the Kawana Sports Hub during construction, ensuring community sport continues uninterrupted.
The local infrastructure upgrades sit outside the jointly funded $7.1 billion Games Venue Infrastructure Program, which is delivering 17 Games venue projects across Queensland and ensures communities will benefit from world-class sporting infrastructure as a great local legacy from the Games.
The Sunshine Coast Stadium upgrade forms part of the Crisafulli Government's plan to deliver the infrastructure Queensland needs, not only for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, but for the decades that follow.
Design work is progressing well following the appointment of leading Queensland firm Architectus as Principal Architect, with early site works commencing later this year ahead of major construction beginning in 2027.
The upgraded stadium will feature increased grandstand capacity, enhanced community and event spaces, improved player amenities and greater accessibility.
The improvements will cement Sunshine Coast Stadium as the region's premier sporting and entertainment venue, supporting grassroots participation, elite training, major sporting fixtures and community events well beyond 2032.
The venue is set to host football group stage and quarter-final matches during the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, showcasing the Sunshine Coast to a global audience while leaving behind infrastructure local communities will enjoy for generations.
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie said the Crisafulli Government had ended Labor's Games chaos and put forward a clear plan that delivered not just for 2032, but for Queensland's future.
"In addition to the 17 new and upgraded venues as part of the 2032 Delivery Plan, we're investing in local infrastructure that communities will use long after the Games are over," Deputy Premier Bleijie said.
"As construction gets underway at Sunshine Coast Stadium, we're making sure local sporting clubs continue to thrive by investing in new facilities, upgraded community infrastructure and permanent assets that will benefit generations of Sunshine Coast families.
"This is exactly what our Games plan is about—building world-class venues while creating lasting opportunities for local communities, sporting clubs and future generations of Queenslanders."
Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Rosanna Natoli said Council had worked closely with each club over several years to plan for the future and support a smooth transition, as major sporting infrastructure projects progressed across the region.
"We know this will bring change for a number of clubs and their members, and we appreciate the way our sporting community has worked with us throughout the planning process," Mayor Natoli said.
"Council has already invested more than $2 million in upgrades to Meridan fields, and this Queensland Government funding will help create an even stronger sporting precinct that local clubs, players and spectators can enjoy for years to come.
"These projects are about more than infrastructure. They are about supporting our children and adults – creating opportunities for people to stay active, connected and involved in their local community.
"I want to thank the Queensland Government for its investment and partnership and, most importantly, the clubs, committees, volunteers, players, families and members who have engaged positively and helped shape these outcomes for our region."
Sunshine Coast Falcons CEO Chris Flannery said the club was excited to work with Crisafulli Government, Sunshine Coast Council and the Kawana Dolphins to deliver the Dolphins seniors a brand-new clubhouse, as well as male and female dressing room facilities.
"This facility will provide a first-class playing venue for the Falcons teams to use while the new Stadium development takes place over the next few years and leave a lasting legacy for the Kawana Dolphins teams to train and play in going forward," Mr Flannery said.
"The current Kawana Clubhouse and dressing rooms have remained largely the same for over 40 years, since I was playing here as a junior, so to see the Kawana Dolphins players, staff, members and volunteers finally get a new clubhouse and facility, is a wonderful outcome for everyone involved."
Kawana Dolphins Senior Rugby League President Michelle Horn said the government's support provided certainty for the club's members and remaining at Kawana allows them to continue building the club's proud history while providing certainty for future generations.
"This is an opportunity to create a lasting legacy that will serve the Kawana community, strengthen rugby league on the Sunshine Coast and provide a permanent home for generations of Dolphins to come," Ms Horn said.
"This support allows us to preserve more than three decades of rugby league history while creating an exciting future for our club and the wider Kawana community.
"The new clubhouse will become the permanent home of the Kawana Dolphins Seniors and a place where our community can continue to gather, celebrate and grow together."
