Let’s get proactive on sports

HAVING a new stadium in the heart of our city’s CBD gives us the opportunity to reshape the narrative about Townsville.

The timing is exactly right to start asking ourselves: what do we want to be known for?

With a local and a state election in 2020, that vision should shape the campaign for any would-be politicians vying for votes in North Queensland.

That vision doesn’t have to be onedimensional. In fact, it should be multifaceted to ensure we have a diverse, thriving economy.

But with the opening of the Queensland Country Bank Stadium early next year, an important thread will be how Townsville is positioned as a sport event mecca.

We already have strong foundations with the annual Townsville 400 Supercars event, an international multisport event to be held here in 2021, a strong NRL side that will draw crowds from across the North, a multi-championship-winning basketball team in the Townsville Fire and a racetrack at Cluden that looks set to become a jewel in Queensland’s racing crown.

The North Queensland Cowboys’ plans for a state-of-the-art high-performance centre beside the new stadium add weight to the narrative as does the recent story about Jeff Horn wanting to fight in a bout at the facility in the near future.

But there is so much more potential and we need to be proactive.

The Sunshine Coast caught us napping when it secured a Women’s State of Origin game that should have rightfully been held at the new stadium.

Why has no one jumped up to help save the Sailing Club at The Strand with its vision of creating a unique watersport facility at that site?

Riverway is an international standard AFL and cricket stadium.

As Townsville Cricket president Peter Fry points out, Townsville could play host to international Test cricket and domestic Big Bash if it were to have broadcast-standard lighting.

Installing proper lights at that facility has been an ongoing suggestion and something the Bulletin has campaigned for over the years – yet it just needs someone with some vision to help make it happen.

Mayoral candidate Sam Cox has jumped on the issue because it’s a nobrainer. Lighting up that facility is something this city needs to get behind but, more than that, we need to think more strategically about how we capitalise on our strengths and let a clear vision guide the way.