POBT
Brownlow Medallist
A $70 MILLION boutique stadium and headquarters plan for the Brisbane Lions Aussie rules club has taken a major step forward with the State Government set to take a funding proposal to the Cabinet Budget Review Committee.
The Springfield-based facility would include a state-of-the-art training facility for all Lions teams, along with a 12,000-seat home ground for the AFLW side who will today play in their second consecutive grand final.
Sports Minister Mick de Brenni confirmed to The Courier-Mail that the State Government was now “supportive” of the project after months of lobbying by the AFL and the Lions.
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan this week made a personal pitch to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk while he was in Queensland.
The State Government will be required to chip in $15 million, with the Federal Government previously indicating they were happy to match any state funding.
Both the Ipswich Council and the AFL will foot the bill for the remaining costs.
“We’ve been sitting down with the AFL and Ipswich City Council for some time, and the proposal looks like it absolutely aligns with our support for the women’s game, plus local job creation on the way through,” Mr de Brenni said.
“I can confirm we’re supportive of what the Lions are trying to achieve. The Ipswich project, if supported by the federal government, will then proceed through our normal budgetary processes.
“Our relationship with the AFL means we look forward to working through this project proposal, but this weekend all of my thoughts are with (Lions AFLW Captain) Emma (Zielke) and the team to bring home the silverware.”
Lions CEO Greg Swann told The Courier-Mail he was very pleased to see the State Government coming on board with the project.
“We have had very encouraging discussions with the State Government. We are really pleased they are supportive of women’s sport on the same weekend of another grand final appearance for our team,” he said.
Calls for a new home ground for the AFLW side reached fever pitch last year after Brisbane was forced to host a grand final on the Gold Coast because the Gabba being unavailable.
If built, the headquarters would include training and administration facilities for all Lions teams, both senior and junior. It could also play host to a number of community events.
The Springfield-based facility would include a state-of-the-art training facility for all Lions teams, along with a 12,000-seat home ground for the AFLW side who will today play in their second consecutive grand final.
Sports Minister Mick de Brenni confirmed to The Courier-Mail that the State Government was now “supportive” of the project after months of lobbying by the AFL and the Lions.
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan this week made a personal pitch to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk while he was in Queensland.
The State Government will be required to chip in $15 million, with the Federal Government previously indicating they were happy to match any state funding.
Both the Ipswich Council and the AFL will foot the bill for the remaining costs.
“We’ve been sitting down with the AFL and Ipswich City Council for some time, and the proposal looks like it absolutely aligns with our support for the women’s game, plus local job creation on the way through,” Mr de Brenni said.
“I can confirm we’re supportive of what the Lions are trying to achieve. The Ipswich project, if supported by the federal government, will then proceed through our normal budgetary processes.
“Our relationship with the AFL means we look forward to working through this project proposal, but this weekend all of my thoughts are with (Lions AFLW Captain) Emma (Zielke) and the team to bring home the silverware.”
Lions CEO Greg Swann told The Courier-Mail he was very pleased to see the State Government coming on board with the project.
“We have had very encouraging discussions with the State Government. We are really pleased they are supportive of women’s sport on the same weekend of another grand final appearance for our team,” he said.
Calls for a new home ground for the AFLW side reached fever pitch last year after Brisbane was forced to host a grand final on the Gold Coast because the Gabba being unavailable.
If built, the headquarters would include training and administration facilities for all Lions teams, both senior and junior. It could also play host to a number of community events.
