For more than 20 years, the sports facility at Cameron Park in Booval has been the home of the Swifts Sports Club. Plans have now been made to sell the land and buildings so that the club can proceed with some much-needed upgrades.
Ipswich’s Growth, Infrastructure and Waste Committee has received the club’s expression of interest to buy the property and begin a $7.4 million refurbishment over the next few years.
According to Council, allowing Swifts Sports Club to keep its lease, as per the original arrangement, would mean the use of public funding to complete its refurbishment.
However, the budget allocated for the club’s facilities will not be enough to cover the required construction work.
“The club has made a proposal to purchase the land and will upgrade the facilities at its own cost but if the sale doesn’t go ahead, the Council will have to pay for refurbishment,” per Mayor Teresa Harding, who is also the chair of the Growth, Infrastructure and Waste Committee.
“The sale would only affect the land on which the club facilities are built – the rest of Cameron Park will remain as it is, owned and managed by Council.”
If the sale pushes through, Swifts Sports Club may be able to file a development application for their new building proposal.
“The community would have further opportunities to comment on any changes the club proposes in their development application which considers building heights, noise, parking and visual amenity,” Ms Harding added.
In November 2021, the Council resolved to sell the property after a series of meetings with the club and consultations with the community. Whilst the public consultation has closed as of 17 Sept 2022, locals may still provide feedback about selling the property to Shape Your Ipswich at communityengagement@wsp.com or via phone at 3368 6693.
Swifts Sports Club, a semi-professional rugby league club, was founded in 1919.