Henry Pike (Bowman, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Charlie Buckler Memorial Sporting Fields at Redland Bay are home to the mightily Redland Bay Cyclones Rugby Union Club, the Redland Sharks Cricket Club and the Redland Bay Tennis Club, with public open spaces and a popular off-leash dog area. It is the heart of so much community activity within Redland Bay, a rapidly growing suburb with many new families seeking sporting and recreation opportunities.

In recognising the need to keep pace with growing demand, the previous federal coalition government committed to invest half-a-million dollars towards a brand new shared clubhouse for rugby union and cricket at the Charlie Buckler oval. I'm pleased to report to the House that this project has been completed, with the club collecting their keys this week. I had a sneak peek of the new facility a few weeks ago, and it is the most impressive suburban clubhouse I have ever seen, including modern change rooms, a significant kitchen, an indoor/outdoor dining area and storage capacity that most clubs could only dream about.

The catalytic federal investment has also enabled council to undertake complementary works to reconfigure the fields, install a new irrigation system, add more car parking, improve connectivity with additional pathways, add new cricket nets and have a reconfigured off-leash area. It's a wonderful example of what's possible when you have a responsive federal government that proactively seeks to partner with local government. Sadly, with the Labor government cutting the Stronger Communities Program funding and local roads and community infrastructure funding, I fear those days are behind us. I wish the clubs well as they take on their— (Time expired)