When you build good facilities, people will come.
This week Queensland Rugby League revealed its QRL Infrastructure Strategy 2022-2030, which shapes as the best policy QRL has had in my time in delivering tangible benefits to the greatest number of rugby league participants across Queensland.
The strategy details how the organisation will work to meet the needs of increasing participation in our game and lift the standard of grassroots facilities to new benchmarks of safety, inclusivity and sustainability.
For the first time, we’ve actively gone out and set our own guidelines around what our fields and our facilities should look like, which we can work towards to make sure all of our facilities are at a standard that will attract people to our game.
The initiative has involved speaking to people right across Queensland to establish the priorities of our clubs and an increasing number of participants, recognising the game will need at least 80 additional fields across the state over the next eight years to meet demand.
At its most basic level, we want all of our facilities to have a flat field that’s going to drain well, is fenced so animals stay out and has a facility to go to provide a bit of shade and shelter, as well as have toilets people can go to if they’re having a community day.
Critical to the strategy has been consultation with local, state and federal government stakeholders to ensure rugby league facilities are assets available not exclusively to our sport, but also to the wider community.
This collaborative approach will put grassroots clubs in a strong position when it comes to tapping into government grant initiatives.
The most important thing is we’ll be able to say at the end of every year what contribution our assistance has had in driving better facilities that make everyone feel safe when they walk through the gate.
Shout out
We wouldn’t be where we have got to with the Infrastructure Strategy without QRL chief financial officer Graham Maher really driving it from the front. I think he deserves recognition for the outstanding extra effort he’s put in to help produce this document.
Key dates
- February 13 is a solemn day for our First Nations peoples as the nation marks the 15-year anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations
- On February 14, Valentine’s Day is an ideal opportunity to celebrate the significant others who support the involvement of all of our rugby league participants
Celebrating our team
Edward Monaei
Roles: QRL Indigenous Advisory Committee member, director Meriba Omasker Kaziw Kazipa, Torres Strait Traditional Adoption Practices
Hometown: Townsville, traditional lands of the Gurambilburra Wulgurukaba, Bindal, Nywaigi and Gugu Badhun peoples
Favourite Queensland Maroons player: Wally Lewis
Favourite Maroons Origin moment: Billy Slater chip and chase, 2004
Why you love your job: It’s the people and communities I work with that makes my job a great job. Working with them, listening to their needs, wants and aspirations is a key element of my role ensure every voice is heard and valued.
What they bring to the team: Eddie is approachable, caring, knowledgeable, collaborative and easy to work with. He has the ability to read a situation and start to work on a solution as quickly as anyone I have ever met. He brings a wealth of experience and understanding of culture to our organisation and after seven years on the Indigenous Advisory Committee is a well-known and respected member of the rugby league community.
