Recreational and Park Facilities

The Albert Park Grandstand is set to undergo a $1.6 million restoration to repair flood damage, enhance facilities, and improve accessibility, securing its long-term use for sports clubs, visitors, and the community.

At its February Ordinary Meeting, Gympie Regional Council awarded the project tender to deliver the project, which is being jointly funded by Gympie Regional Council and the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) following the February 2022 floods.

The flood recovery works will include essential structural upgrades, replacing the external staircases, front balustrade, as well as renovations to the canteen, transforming it into a meeting space.

Other improvements will address flood-related damage, including sediment removal, and repairs to the path, flooring, internal gutters, and bathroom, air conditioning upgrades, and repairs to the grandstand’s timber seating and flooring.

Construction is expected to commence in April 2025, with completion estimated for September 2025, weather permitting.

Council will notify nearby residents and affected sporting clubs about the project before work on the grandstand begins.

Lake Alford Park is set to undergo a $760,000 transformation to revitalise this much-loved area.

At its February Ordinary Meeting, Council awarded the project tender to S.C.L Services Pty Ltd t/a DISC Landscapes to deliver the project, which is being funded through the Queensland Reconstruction Authority following the February 2022 floods.

The works include a mixture of organic measures to stabilize the banks of the ponds which includes using plants, gradual sloping and introducing some sandstone blocks, which will also double as a terraced seating area adjacent to the Gympie Lions Rotunda.

Up to 25,000 new plants including trees, grasses, and aquatic plants will be planted as part of the project, as well as a garden restoration to remove any dead or sick trees and plants which will go a long way to reinvigorate the area.

Construction is expected to commence in the next month, with completion estimated for early June 2025, weather permitting.

During the works, sections of the park adjacent to the pond will be closed to the community for safety. These closures will only be in place for a short period and will periodically move around the pond as the project progresses.

The QRA funding is part of the Community and Recreational Asset Recovery and Resilience Program established to assist local governments, state agencies, and non-profit sport and active recreation organisations to clean-up, repair and or build resilience following the 2022 floods.

The Community and Recreational Asset Recovery and Resilience Program is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

Following the flood events in February and May 2022, the stormwater drainage in Archery Park failed. This resulted in leaving a significant stretch of the recreational park barricaded off for safety reasons.

Council has installed a new stormwater pipe and reinstated even ground conditions around the pipe.

Funding Assistance provided through the jointly-funded Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

The BMX facility at the One Mile Sports Complex was severely inundated during flood events in 2022. The canteen was flooded and poor drainage resulted in damage to the track.

A new drainage system has been installed at the BMX track, and the construction of a new flood resilient amenities block is scheduled to commence in June 2025, with completion estimated for late September 2025, weather permitting.

Funding assistance has been provided through the jointly-funded Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements and the Queensland Government

Home of Gympie Junior Rugby League, Jack Stokes Oval was flooded in the February flood event. The inundation and subsequent pitch activities compacted the soil profile and created an uneven playing surface.

Field renovations have been now been completed.

Funding Assistance provided through the jointly-funded Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

The Kandanga swimming pool plant room was inundated by flood waters causing loss of plant and machinery. Jack Spicer Oval was subject to fast and deep flowing floodwaters, which caused damage to the playing surface, and destruction of fences.

Restoration completed to date include:

1. Repairs to Jack Spicer playing field including planting.
2. Replacement shrouding incorporating locally designed artwork.
3. New signs around the pool.
4. Repair of the pool amenities.

Funding Assistance provided through the Queensland Government’s Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport grants.

The One Mile Sports complex was flooded in both the February and May flood events. The facility received damage to both the amenities block and playing fields.

As of Decemember 2024, field renovations and repairs are complete, council is now moving onto centerblock amenities later in 2025.

Funding Assistance provided through the jointly-funded Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements and the Queensland Government.

Flooding of the Six Mile Oval and subsequent use of the field resulted in the soil becoming compacted and the damage to the playing surface.

Flood recovery funds were secured to install drainage and permanent irrigation which will shorten the recovery time of the field after inundation. Installation of drainage and irrigation commenced in November 2024 andfield renovations are underway, work are due to be completed by end of February 2025. In addition to the drainage and irrigation works, new state-regulation Pila goal posts have been installed.

The Youth Precinct was inundated by the February and May flood events in 2022, the facility received damage to park furniture, the concrete skate bowl and vegetation in the park.

In January 2025 council completed repair works. Works included cleaning, resealing, repainting, and re-marking the skatepark following flood damage.

Funding Assistance provided through the jointly-funded Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.