Moves to start filling in blanks

A HOST of Gold Coast Australian rules clubs are at a startling 200 per cent over capacity and many more overflowing as AFL Queensland begin to make inroads on the green space crisis threatening the growth of the game.

Backroom talks are taking place between the sport’s governing body, government and schools to find a way to alleviate the problem.

AFL Queensland has started talks with Miami and Southport State High Schools about forming a partnership that would enable clubs to use their grounds to train and play.

Miami State High is located close to Burleigh Bombers who the Bulletin revealed in July had the highest rate of concussions of any Gold Coast club due to the rock hard surface on their single field.

Southport Juniors are the potential occupants of the Southport High precinct.

“We’re working across clubs, Council, schools etc to facilitate outcomes but this will be on a case-by-case basis where there is a mutual benefit for user groups,” AFL Queensland State Manager Infrastructure and Government Relations Cobey Moore said.

“Key to this is tenure and the ability to deliver infrastructure improvements to these spaces for the wider community including lighting and improved maintenance practices.”

AFL Queensland chief Dean Warren has described the restricted green space as one of the biggest issues facing the game across Queensland but only one Aussie rules oval, located in Coomera, is part of Gold Coast City Council’s infrastructure development plans between now and 2025.

It comes as statistics show a 25.9 per cent growth in club teams, 47.7 per cent increase in club players, 177.5 per cent growth in school competitions and an 86.5 per cent rise in total participants on the Coast.

Clubs over capacity include Coomera, Pacific Pines, Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, Burleigh and Palm Beach Currumbin while Broadbeach, Burleigh and Palm Beach Currumbin are at or over 200 per cent capacity.

The booming population on the Gold Coast and fact it is already high density means green space for ovals will only become harder.

It has meant the AFLQ has put enormous focus on obtaining tenure agreements with schools with existing fields, oval or rectangular, along with improving lighting infrastructure to enable more flexible game times and building synthetic grounds to reduce maintenance costs.