Becky Oakley
Logan City Mayor Pam Parker revealed plans today for a high performance junior rugby league centre to open next year in undeveloped bushland at Logan’s Waterford West.
Cr Parker says the announcement marks the formalisation of a decade long relationship between the Brisbane Broncos and Logan City Council.
“The partnership will unite one of the National Rugby League’s most respected and acclaimed rugby league outfits with one of the nation’s premier rugby league nurseries, ” she said.
The $6.5 million Logan Broncos Junior Rugby League Academy will include three rugby league fields and spectator space.
Cr Parker says sporting facilities such as these give youth the opportunity to stay out of trouble.
“I always say this when I go to sporting comps, rarely do I see a children before the children’s courts who are involved in sports.”
She says the development will also help to create more positive perceptions of Logan.
“The Broncos recognise what a great community we have down here … which isn’t always portrayed by the media,” she said.
“We want to thank them for profiling the positiveness about our great city.”
Broncos CEO Paul White says Logan City and the Broncos have had a long relationship due to many Broncos players, including Corey Parker and Israel Folau, having trained as juniors at local clubs.
“Not only can we keep sourcing more first grade players and rugby league youth from Logan,” he said.
“But we’ll have a world class, purpose-built facility in the heart of the region to support them.”
Mr White says the formalised partnership between the Brisbane Broncos and Logan City will follow from the work they’ve been doing unofficially for around 10 years.
“It actually builds on our ability as a club to be able to put something back into Logan,” he said.
“At the same time making sure we get the opportunity to secure the best talent from this area.”
Chairperson of the Parks, Sport & Community Services Committee Cr Phil Pidgeon said this was a great opportunity to capture the interests of young people in Logan.
“This area where this facility is located has the biggest population of young people 0 – 15 years in Queensland, “he said.
“I congratulate our Council for taking a gamble in this sense and going for this,”
“This is what we need in this city.”
The announcement comes a day after the launch of Logan City’s new tourism website, visitlogan.com.au, which compliments plans for further development of tourism in the area.