A NEW 10-year lease for Redlands Cricket Incorporated is set to pave the way for a $1 million State Government-funded women’s changeroom at Wellington Point’s EGW Wood Sportsfield, securing the future of one of the city’s premier cricket venues.
Redland City councillors will this week consider approving the lease over part of the Birkdale Road sporting precinct to satisfy a key State Government funding requirement for the long-awaited facility.
The new changeroom, to be built beside Ron Field Oval, forms part of a broader vision to transform EGW Wood into a hub for both elite and grassroots cricket.
Queensland Cricket, together with Cricket Australia, Redland City Council and all levels of government, has committed to significant upgrades at the venue, with plans to strengthen its role as a high-performance training base while supporting growing community participation.
The State Government has committed $1 million towards construction of the dedicated women’s changeroom, aimed at meeting the rapid growth in female participation by providing safe, secure and fit-for-purpose amenities.
The facility will also include viewing areas and public amenities for families and spectators.
However, council officers say the funding cannot proceed unless Redlands Cricket Incorporated secures appropriate lease tenure over the site.
The club currently operates under a licence to occupy the cricket fields, but Queensland Cricket has advised a formal lease is required under the funding agreement.
The report warns that failure to secure the lease could result in the club missing out on the State Government funding.
The proposal also includes relocating an existing equipment storage shed to make way for the new building.
EGW Wood has been the home of organised cricket in the Redlands since the late 1970s.
It became the home ground of the Redlands Tigers following the formation of Redlands Cricket Incorporated through the amalgamation of local senior and junior cricket organisations around 2000.
Under the proposed agreement, the not-for-profit club would receive the lease at a nominal rental in recognition of the community benefits it provides.
The club would be responsible for lease preparation costs, utilities, maintenance and insurance, with council confirming a financial assessment found the organisation to be financially sound.
Council officers are recommending councillors approve the 10-year lease, subject to planning approvals and final agreement on the lease area, while retaining the right to review its terms as part of a broader review of community leasing arrangements across the city.
