sport
Facilities Venues and Infrastructure Supporting Sport Locally
Council upgrades at Kawana and Maroochydore sites expand training options for clubs across the region.
How we reported this
The Sunshine Coast Council finished a $12 million redevelopment of the Kawana Sports Complex on Nicklin Way last month, adding two full-size synthetic fields and new lighting that meets national competition standards.
Why the timing matters
Local participation in team sports rose 18 percent between 2023 and 2025, according to council figures, and the new infrastructure arrives just as organisers plan to host junior carnivals that normally travel to Brisbane. The upgrades let clubs keep training and match schedules inside the region instead of losing revenue to venues farther south.
Two kilometres north, the Maroochydore Multi Sports Centre on the Sunshine Coast Highway received new change rooms and a dedicated athletics track surface funded through the same capital works program. Both sites sit within 15 minutes of the Bruce Highway, giving schools from Buderim and Sippy Downs easier access for weekly programs.
Numbers behind the build
Records released by the council show 47,200 player registrations across winter codes in 2025, up from 39,800 two years earlier. The Kawana project alone cost $8.4 million in construction plus $3.6 million for lighting and drainage, with the first competitive matches scheduled for 19 July. Daily hire rates for the new fields start at $185 for senior clubs and $95 for junior teams.
Residents can check availability and submit bookings through the council website or by calling the sports and recreation team before the next school holidays begin in September. Early registration also secures priority for the September school holiday clinics already listed at both venues.