sport
Sunshine Coast Expands Sports Venues and Infrastructure to Meet Rising Demand
Council upgrades at key sites aim to keep pace with growing participation across the region.
How we reported this
The Sunshine Coast Regional Council endorsed a $14.7 million package last week to expand and modernise three existing sports sites, including new lighting and additional fields at the Kawana Sports Complex.
Global events like the ongoing World Cup have lifted interest in local training programs, pushing facilities past their usual capacity on weekends and after school hours. The timing aligns with the council's 2026 budget cycle, which allocates extra funds for maintenance and expansion before the next summer season.
Named sites see targeted works
Work at the Kawana Sports Complex on Nicklin Way will add two synthetic pitches and upgrade the main grandstand by December. Further north, the Maroochydore Sports Precinct on Horton Parade receives new change rooms and an expanded car park to handle netball and rugby league fixtures. The Active Sunshine Coast program, run from the council's administration building in Tewantin, will coordinate bookings across both sites and link them to school holiday clinics.
Figures released by the council show 187,000 registered participants in organised sport last financial year, up 11 percent from 2024. The average cost per new lighting tower at Kawana sits at $285,000, with the full Kawana project due for completion before the 2027 junior rugby season opens.
Next steps for users
Bookings for the upgraded fields open through the council's online portal on 1 August. Local clubs can apply for priority access by contacting the sports development team before the end of July.