Ballymore redevelopment gets big pre-election funding promise

Maybe, but there is already substantial public transport spending underway and in planning. More of it in order to justify spending on rugby infrustructure won’t get my support.

I think you'll find that claims of govt investment in pro-sports infrastructure providing benefits to the wider community are vastly over-inflated. If health initiatives and junior clubs are your concern, the Govt could just as easily and more effectively invest in those directly without providing more socialism for the rich.

Ad-O. Different surfaces for rugby and football - so when they share grounds it becomes a nightmare. Sport (whatever code and type) should be supported by government because it assists with health initiatives, provides "entertainment" , etc for the general public (i.e. taxpayers). If sporting codes had to pay for facilities then junior participants (and their parents) wouldn't be able to afford the levies. Bottom line is, thois decision will be argued to the hills and it will be based on a person's sporting / non-sporting bias; and it will only happen if the current government gets re-elected. .... just like the Howard offer.

I was hopeful that the other aspects, like the accommodation, could be money-makers for both QRU and RA. Opportunities that are going to go to waste? Facilities that any of the other codes may make available to anyone interested in paying? Come on rugby admin, get on the front foot!

Mate I'd say the QRU are happy to settle for anything that gets rid of the current stands and wipes out the maintenance black hole, which I have heard is $1m per annum. It's been their No.1 off field priority and turns a liability into an asset again. I agree re the location, less than 1km from a major bus terminal at RBH. Lang park commuters have a similar walk from the stations or a shuttle bus from the big bus terminals in the city. Again, I don't think it's slated to be a big game venue but a state of art training facility with the ability to host smaller games, think AB Field.

I've commented about the reasons for the "delays" that have happened. What I'd really like to know is what has happened to the original plans that included (sports) medical facilities available to the general public and the accommodation facilities for training camps for any teams, local, international and NH teams considering pre-season training in good weather? There was also talk about opportunities for developing countries to bring their teams out for elite training camps. A recovery pool, again open to the public, public walkways for the local residents and their dogs. In all, there were lots of other aspects to the re-development, not just knocking down one stand to build another. Where have all those aspects gone? And please don't blame location. Ballymore has no more or less logistical conditions than Lang Park.

Howard promised but I think Beattie held back from the state and then Rudd tried to kill it. There was also some objection from local residents due to the way the land was granted to the QRU by Clem Jones Brisbane City Council after a new home had been found for Brothers Rugby League Club in 1966(?).

Multi-level Park-and-Ride during the work week, dedicated bus routes on the weekend.

Lost count of the number of times this gets trotted out at state and federal elections. First promised by Howard, then cancelled by the incoming Rudd Government (fair enough, though he had the temerity to turn up to Wallaby dressing rooms when he was in his prime populist phase as PM) in 2007 then bought up every time since. Take with a grain of salt.

If Govt funds are involved the new Ballymore should also be for sports other than Rugby. 20K would be a perfect size for Roar games, and probably a nicer place to watch the more sparsely attended Broncos games. Of course, what professional sports teams should really be doing is getting together to pay for their own infrastructure. I don't see how its ethical for the taxpayer to foot the bill for stadiums when clubs and provinces are paying their players and management millions.

My Grandmother born in 1897 in Scotland as a married women lived in the first house directly across Breakfast Creek from before Ballymore even existed. She said the creek was beautiful with a sandy bottom that the kids would swim in. Then industry turned it into an ugly slime pit. Then some rugby dudes drew a field on farmland across the creek- 50 metres wide and 100 metres long- and nothing has been the same since. I’m the only person in my family to have the luxury to have played sport , all my fore generation never did - but all went to war - World War One and Two and even as payed soldiers in the American civil war. Give it a break and be happy that something might happen - it’s only a game!

Like that's going to happen. 20,000 spectators. The men's national team struggle to get that sort of crowd these days at Suncorp for any game not involving the All Blacks let alone the Wallaroos at Ballymore. No wonder sport has become so politicised. With the trough of private funding having dried up sporting bodies now rely on the public purse and without compunction will put their hand into any pork barrel and their snout into any trough that our corrupt degenerate system of governance has on offer. In eyeing votes Politician's are in effect "robbing Peter to pay Paul." The sad Irony is that Paul for the most part isn't even listening.

Various observations: Herston residents make the Isis look insipid when there's talk of Ballymore redevelopment with increased traffic. It would be more helpful if the state government bought $15mil worth of Reds' tickets because no one is going to the games. Rugby is for LNP voters; Stacia Palchook is out of touch. Reasonable crowds attend the Hospital's Cup finals and sometimes you can get a beer before the final whistle.

Wasn’t Howard the first to promise a upgrade and nothing has ever happened?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXqxHzLOS9U It's only designed for more modest crowds for womens games, club and NRC type crowds with a small stand and grass hills. Whatever, this has become a joke, a pre election gift that has been recycled as many times as a fondue set. The grandstand was due for demolition a year ago but the State has withheld the funds for some reason...maybe add it into an election campaign bundle?..again. Hopefully the Wallaroos can bring a bit more political punch if they welch on the money again.

Yeah its crazy trying to get there...I hope they build some form of bus centre there.

Upgrading the stadium's only half the problem; despite it only being ~4 km north of the city centre it's not the easiest place to get to, especially if you are trying to get 20,000 into and out of the stadium.