Save Kangaroo Point Green space from becoming an Olympic Training Ground and Proposal of Coorparoo’s Giffin Park Precinct instead

Kangaroo Point is growing rapidly and the increase in population and high density living design in our inner suburbs, has elevated the need to access green space.  Raymond (Pineapple) Park is a crucial green space and vital to the mental health and wellbeing of the local Kangaroo Point and Woolloongabba community.  It is effectively our backyard.

The Park is a multifunctional green space used by residents for:

·           Running, walking and general exercise including personal / group training sessions and gym equipment

·           Off leash dog park,

·           Collaboration through the upkeep of the community gardens,

·           Home of the Kangaroo Point Rovers Soccer club

·           Basketball, cricket, and use of the skateboard facilities,

·           Children's parties at the playground – there are parties/ gatherings every weekend,

·           BBQ’s – in fact a second pergola was recently built to accommodate the increasing use of this area.

The importance of this green space was highlighted during and now post COVID, where we’ve seen an increase in the use of the park and its facilities by the local community. Inner city green space is rare, and vital to the liveability and mental health of local residents. As highlighted in newscientist.com “we’ve seen an explosion of research finding concrete links between increased exposure to nature and not just improved physical health, but better mental health, too”. https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24933270-800-green-spaces-arent-just-for-nature-they-boost-our-mental-health-too/#ixzz79b2AOKbK 

Many of the local residents have chosen to live in Kangaroo Point specifically for the access to the park and all of its facilities, as well as its proximity to the city, with many walking or riding into work, rather than driving.

The Queensland Government has proposed for Raymond Park to be replaced with an Olympic warm-up field, thereby destroying the backyard of many Kangaroo Point Residents: See: https://kangaroopointnews.com.au/raymond-park-upgrades-as-brisbane-prepares-to-be-olympic-ready/

Decision makers have currently got the balance right in the park with a mix of community sport, open space, family recreation and bbq facilities. The proposed changes will disrupt this balance and reduced the usability and ability to meet the needs of the local community who are “connected” to the park. 

In addition to the loss of our green space, construction of an Olympic sized training ground, will inevitably result in the resumption of properties that back on to the park, as they cannot fit this size field into the current green space.

 

RECOMMENDATION - This petition is supporting the redirection of funds to the Coorparoo Giffin Park precinct to construct the Olympic training ground.

This solution is still very central to The Gabba, being only 2.1kms away and just a 4-minute drive, as opposed to a two-minute drive from Raymond Park to The Gabba.

The benefits of utilising Giffin Park Precinct for the Olympic training ground are vast, and will result in a positive outcome for the local community which include:

·           It will be built where the facilities are needed and will be utilised by the local community.

·           It will be upgrading current sporting grounds as opposed to taking over current limited local green space.

·           It will benefit local schools and sporting clubs including Coorparoo Secondary College, Churchie, Coorparoo AFL Club and overflow for White’s Hill Touch association.

·           It will give the local children a unique, deep and meaningful access to athletics and the Olympics.

·           It will assist Government with the promise in the budget to deliver 6 synthetic sporting fields and by combining the budgets, will maximise the tax payers investment in a precinct in dire need for upgraded facilities.

·           It will provide an economic return for the precinct when they rent out the facilities for both the Olympic event and potentially other events that can be held in the dedicated sporting precinct.

·           Being in the Coorparoo precinct and connected with the local schools and sporting clubs, we will be investing in a facility that will inspire and encourage the development of our 12-15 year old athletes, who are our target group for the Olympics.

·           Save tens of millions of taxpayers’ dollars in the cost of resumption of property along Raymond park and direct these funds back into the Coorparoo precinct