William Taylor Memorial Sports Field upgrade project

The phased transformation of the William Taylor Memorial Sports Field will continue through October 2024. This is due to the installation of state-of-the-art LED lighting on the main soccer field. This upgrade is part of Council's commitment to improving sports facilities for the community and ensuring the field meets competition standards. This is a significant step forward in the Thorneside complex upgrade and transformation. The upgrades will reduce club electricity costs while ensuring lighting meets competition standards.

In addition, new LED lighting will offer numerous benefits, including:

• Enhanced visibility: The improved lighting quality will provide clearer and brighter illumination, ensuring safer playing conditions during night matches and training sessions.
• Energy efficiency: LED lights consume significantly less energy than traditional halogen lighting, resulting in lower electricity bills for the club and reduced environmental impact.
• Longer lifespan: With a longer operational life than halogen lights, LED fixtures will require fewer replacements, minimising maintenance costs and downtime.
• Reduced light pollution: LED lighting's advanced technology directs light more effectively onto the field, reducing light spills and minimising disruption to nearby residents.
• Superior coverage: With the number of lighting towers decreasing from six to four, advanced LED technology will still provide superior coverage and performance, ensuring consistent lighting across the field.

Contractors are scheduled to complete the lighting upgrade at the main soccer field over the next two months, weather permitting.

This upgrade is part of Council's long-term vision for the Thorneside complex, ensuring it remains a valued asset for years to come. The new lighting will benefit not just players and clubs, but the entire community as the field becomes a more modern, efficient, and enjoyable space for all to use.

Council has allocated $1.2 million towards the upgrade of the William Taylor Memorial Sports Field project in its 2023-24 budget. The full program of works is expected to be planned, designed and delivered over several years, with the funding from this financial year to be directed towards sports field lighting.

Other park features at this site, including the recreational elements located near the community hall, are subject to future planning, design, and budget allocation.

More information about this exciting upgrade project will be shared with tenant clubs and community members as the project progresses.

Council’s external skate park design consultant led two workshops on 17 May 2022 to explore options to replace the existing skate and BMX features at William Taylor Memorial Sports Field.

30 locals participated in the design workshops, including professionals, young skate and BMX park users and parents.

They explored a range of ideas and options, and provided input that will guide the final design of these skate and BMX facilities, and encourage local participation in these sports.

Subject to future budget allocation, some of the layout outcomes include:

• the skate park will remain located away from the road in response to community feedback on the initial layout plan
• Petanque sports requirements to be met for the court size and shelter
• BMX track to include a mix of natural elements, skill obstacles and dirt jumps
• Skatepark to incorporate a flow that allows creativity of use.

Design work starts

Design of change rooms, car park and associated pathways has commenced and is expected to improve connectivity and accessibility as well as stormwater management, at William Taylor Memorial Sports Fields.

Council also plans to conduct a lighting audit of the site this year, investigating the potential for future designs to incorporate LED to meet sports-specific standards and city planning requirements.

Further design and construction works are subject to Council’s future budget priorities.

01 Dec 2021

Thank you to everyone who participated. This project is an important part of Council’s efforts to provide for the current as well as future sport and recreation needs of Redlands Coast.

During the consultation period, the project page had over 600 visitors, nearly 300 written submissions were received and a diversity of views and ideas were captured.

Community feedback is now being reviewed and analysed so outcomes can be shared. Council will be having conversations with user groups in the coming weeks to capture further information to inform upgrade plans. User groups will include skaters, scooter and BMX riders, petanque players, and sports field users including football (soccer), cricket, netball and tennis.

Redland City Council is providing an extra two weeks during which those interested in the future of Thorneside’s William Taylor Memorial Sports Field will be able to have their say.

Mayor Karen Williams said that, while more than 180 people had already provided input, extending the survey period to 24 September would give more people the opportunity to review the draft site layout and improvements to the recreation area.

“The proposed upgrade at William Taylor Memorial Sports Field follows a recent renewal of the tennis courts and public cricket nets,” Cr Williams said.

“Council is still keen to hear what park features users enjoy. The two-minute survey focuses on the recreation area, including the theme of the play space and skate park, which includes the bike skills track, with space to provide views on the proposed site layout.

“While the survey will remain open until 24 September 2021, the competition to win one of three $100 gift cards will still end on 10 September 2021, so I would encourage people to get in early and not miss that opportunity.”

Division 10 Councillor Paul Bishop said numerous locals and other users had contacted him in support of the consultation and wanting to share their views about this sports park upgrade.

“William Taylor Memorial Sports Field is beloved in the Thorneside community. Having extra time for consultation will allow local residents, youth and families to offer feedback during week one of the holidays, which is very important,” Cr Bishop said.

“Officers have worked together with tenant clubs and identified some drainage, access and layout issues that need to be managed, with some changes proposed across the balance of the site. Local residents also have a lot knowledge and wisdom that can help Council plans for this open space area, which includes Charles Toni Reserve.

“I’m pleased there will be further conversations with other user groups once the consultation period is finished.”

It is expected the detailed design for the William Taylor Memorial Sports Field will be finalised by June 2022, ready for construction when funding becomes available.

To complete the two minute survey and to find out more about the William Taylor Memorial Sports Field Upgrade, visit yoursay.redland.qld.gov.au.

The competition to win the three $100 gift cards will close on 10 September 2021 with gift card winners being selected via random draw.

Redlands Coast residents can help shape the future of Thorneside’s William Taylor Memorial Sports Field, with those who complete a two-minute survey by 10 September 2021 able to go into the draw to win one of three $100 gift cards.

Mayor Karen Williams said the survey, which opens on 27 August, would help Council better understand what locals, tenant sporting clubs and other park users would like to see at the popular park.

“We know that Redlands Coast residents value their open spaces and will be enjoying the new tennis and cricket facilities which opened at William Taylor in June and are looking forward to the upgraded public toilets, picnic facilities and a bike skills zone, as well as the renewed play space, skate park, BMX/cycling, petanque court and carpark,” Cr Williams said.

“This survey now gives Thorneside locals and other park users, including sporting clubs, the opportunity to influence a sports, natural environment or discovery theme for the new toddler-primary play space, as well as the option to suggest other ideas.

“Similarly, by letting us know what they like about the existing skate park, our growing skating community will help design a facility with features they would like to use.

“Detailed design of the recreation area will start later this year and will consider the survey results together with the site plan already developed in collaboration with the sporting clubs that call William Taylor home.

“The detailed design will be finalised by June 2022, ready for construction when funding becomes available.”

Division 10 Councillor Paul Bishop said Council was eager to hear from Thorneside locals and other park users, after having recent formal discussion with committee members of the tenant sporting clubs about the proposed improvements.

“The renewed tennis courts and public cricket nets have already brought a new lease of life to this local sport and recreation hub at William Taylor Sports Reserve,” he said.

“Over the years, I have heard requests for upgrades and changes to reflect diverse needs within our local area. Now, council has committed to provide a play space the neighbourhood will enjoy using as well as a revamped skate, scooter, BMX facility that might encourage even more young people to get outdoors and get active within a safe and family friendly environment.

“We will be letterbox-dropping paper copies of the survey to residents around William Taylor as an additional way for those who live nearby to let us know their views. However, the easiest way to complete the survey is online at yoursay.redland.qld.gov.au

“As local councillor, I really urge locals to share your views. After the survey closes on 10 September, it would be great to have received a high number of participants in this consultation activity, as this is what will help ensure an open space that the entire community can enjoy for years to come.”

To complete the two minute survey and enter the draw to win one of three $100 gift cards, and to find out more about the William Taylor Memorial Sports Field Upgrade, visit yoursay.redland.qld.gov.au. Gift card winners will be selected via random draw.