Local clubs and community organisations are set to benefit from more than $2.3 million in funding as part of the Lord Mayor’s Better Suburbs Grants.
The funding, allocated under the Community Facility grant category, will help Warehouse Cricket Association Queensland Inc improve facilities for female cricketers at Marchant Park.
Warren Finegan, Chairman of the Executive Committee, said Warehouse Cricket would build new change rooms for male and female cricketers, to be located to the south of the central main oval.
“The current amenities building was built in 1990 to the then standards and funding levels available,” Warren said. “Over the years, those facilities have proved inadequate for cricket in general and totally inadequate for the growing number of female cricketers.
“The new change rooms will provide the ability for Warehouse Cricket to attract greater numbers of cricket competitions in general and specifically, for female cricketers.”
In addition to the Better Suburbs Grants, Warehouse Cricket also secured funding from the Federal Government’s Play Our Way grant program and the Australian Cricket Infrastructure Fund.
The new change rooms are expected to be completed by the end of the year, ready for the 2026 National Cricket Championships to be held at Marchant Park in January.
More Local Clubs to Receive Upgrades
Warren said the new change rooms were the first step in the association’s master plan to enhance its cricketing and community facilities.
“In 2024, Warehouse Cricket invested significant funds into the preparation of a master plan for all three of its leased complexes (Marchant Park in Chermside, 7th Brigade Park in Geebung and Kianawah Park in Tingalpa) in order to plan for improving the delivery of sport for the coming decades,” he said.
Other local community projects funded through this round of the Better Suburbs Grants include improved wheelchair access onto the greens at Chermside Bowls Club, as well as planning and design for the expansion of Stepping Stone North.
North Brisbane Rugby Union Club Inc in Wavell Heights will use its funding to install a permanent storage shed, and Brisbane Hockey Management Group Inc at Chermside will upgrade sports field lighting.
Marchant Ward Councillor Danita Parry said Council was always looking for ways to support community organisations.
“I’m stoked to see these much-loved clubs in our community receive upgrades that will make them even better for their members and players,” she said.
Applications for the next round of Lord Mayor’s Better Suburbs Grants open this month. For more information, search ‘Better Suburbs Grants’ at brisbane.qld.gov.au
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Featured image: Hitesh Rathod and Laurence Christie from Warehouse Cricket Association Queensland Inc with the Marchant Park Master Plan
