Andrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

When I worked with the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Housing on the government's HomeBuilder program, I was optimistic that it could restore the work which the Sunshine Coast construction sector had lost during the COVID crisis. However, with land releases selling out in days, and new homes on the coast being bought sight unseen by families moving to our community from both Victoria and New South Wales, this program has far exceeded anyone's expectations. The rapid growth will be a welcome boost for local businesses at a difficult time, but, as a region, we now need to make sure that the Sunshine Coast has the facilities that a community like ours needs and deserves. That means more than just roads and rail. In particular, I believe the time has come for us to make the Sunshine Coast Stadium ready to host more of the biggest games and the biggest acts. Plans have been drawn up for a $68 million upgrade for the stadium, which would see the fixed seating capacity grow from just around 1,100 now to nearly 12,000 seats, with an eventual capacity of more than 23,000. I've been in discussions with Sunshine Coast Council, community leaders and local state members to gather the funding we need. Following a welcome commitment of $20 million from the Queensland LNP team, we now have just $20 million to find.

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