REDLAND City Council will next week be asked to endorse a preferred site for a long-planned indoor sports facility and begin the next stage of planning to address a growing shortage of indoor courts across the region.
A report to the March 18 general meeting recommends councillors give in-principle support to a preferred location — currently confidential — and authorise officers to begin detailed business case development and market testing to explore whether the project could be delivered through a public-private partnership.
The move follows a resolution by council in September 2024 to investigate options for a new indoor sports complex and prepare an Indoor Sports Facility Action Plan.
Consultants were engaged in early 2025 to undertake a feasibility assessment of shortlisted locations, with council later endorsing three preferred sites in September last year.
After further due diligence, officers say one site has now emerged as the only viable option to progress immediately.
According to the report, the recommended location offers several advantages, including avoiding the need to relocate existing sporting clubs and providing capacity to create a larger integrated community precinct.
It also aligns with earlier strategic planning work and renewal priorities identified by council.
The site is considered suitable for a broader sport and recreation hub that could incorporate multiple facilities and services.
Council officers also believe the project presents a strong opportunity to explore a public-private partnership or co-investment model to help fund and deliver the infrastructure.
Under such an arrangement, a private partner could potentially finance, design, build or operate the facility while recovering investment over time through a contractual agreement.
Similar partnership models have been used elsewhere in Queensland to deliver community infrastructure, including the Brighton Homes Arena at Springfield and the Parkinson Aquatic Centre.
If councillors support the recommendation, the project will move into a two-stage planning process.
Stage one would involve preparing a comprehensive business case examining the facility mix, commercial viability, risks and potential delivery models while also conducting “market sounding” to determine whether private investors are interested in partnering with council.
Should that process identify viable interest, stage two would involve preparing an Expression of Interest package for council approval before potentially being released to the market.
Council officers warn that failing to progress planning for a new indoor sports facility would leave a significant shortfall in indoor sporting infrastructure across the Redlands.
The report notes the current deficit is already limiting opportunities for local sporting groups and preventing the region from attracting major events.
Without additional indoor courts, the city will struggle to support the growth of sports that rely on indoor facilities and will remain unable to host many state, national or international competitions.
Funding for the next stage of work, including engaging consultants to prepare the business case and undertake market testing, is expected to be considered as part of council’s 2026-27 budget process.
Attachments identifying the recommended site and detailed project brief remain confidential while due diligence investigations continue.
If endorsed, the decision would mark the next major step toward delivering what could become one of the Redlands Coast’s largest indoor sporting precincts.
