Motocross and other difficult-to-locate sports the focus of new plan

Noosa Council is leading the development of a Regional Difficult to Locate Sports Facilities Plan for the Noosa, Sunshine Coast and Gympie Council areas.

The Plan will focus on four main sports:

• Aviation sports, such as hang gliding, paragliding, model aeroplane flying, fixed wing and ultralight competitive/recreational flying.
• All disciplines of shooting.
• Motorcycle sports, such as motocross and trail bike riding.
• Competitive, powered water sports.

Noosa Council Sport and Recreation Officer Mark Borgert said consultant Otium Planning Group would be contacting the relevant sports clubs to gather information about their needs, by way of survey, in the next two weeks.

“The Plan will consider each sport’s needs, and how we might better accommodate them, either through better use of existing facilities or in planning for new regional facilities,” Mr Borgert said.

“With sports enthusiasts typically travelling across the greater region to participate in their chosen sport, it makes sense for councils to work together to meet the various sports’ needs, particularly in the case of sports with very specific requirements.

“If we work together we may be able to find existing facilities that are already available, plus avoid doubling up in the delivery of new infrastructure, which may mean a better outcome for local sports clubs, sooner,” Mr Borgert said.

Council anticipates the draft report will be ready during the first half of 2018.

The Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing is funding the Plan’s development by way of a $75,000 Sport and Recreation Planning Program grant. The three councils are also contributing funding to the project

The Plan follows on from the recent adoption of Noosa Council’s Sport and Active Recreation Plan, which sets out priorities for sport and active recreation across the shire.

20 October 2017