Queensland has announced funding to help sporting clubs across the state recover from the impacts of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. The initiative is part of the Sport and Recreation Disaster Recovery Program, designed to assist not-for-profit sport and recreation organisations with immediate clean-up efforts.
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This funding is welcome news for clubs in areas like Bardon, where the Bardon Latrobe Football Club is dealing with waterlogged fields at its home ground, Bowman Park. The club reported that a significant amount of water remains on the fields, and it will take time for them to dry properly.
In the aftermath of the storm, clubs have also faced issues with children playing on flooded fields using boogie boards. Some were seen at Bowman Park, prompting the club to issue a reminder on social media: “Please remind children that playing in the water at Bowman Park is not only dangerous and unhealthy, but even the lightest child is cutting up the turf. If we all stay off the park, then the grass has the capacity to recover remarkably quickly.”
Bardon Latrobe has urged the public to respect sporting spaces and for members to stay off the fields during the recovery process. The club remains optimistic about a swift return to play, stating: “The fields are recovering well, and with everyone staying off like this, we’ll all get back to playing soon.”
Football Queensland has suspended all football activity until 17 March due to flooding and damage across many clubs. Affected clubs are encouraged to complete the club damage report form on Football Queensland’s Disaster Recovery Hub as soon as it is safe to do so. This will help assess their readiness to resume training and host fixtures.
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Grant Assistance for Affected Clubs
The program provides financial support to re-establish facilities and activities after extreme weather events, including floods, fires, cyclones, and severe storms.
To assist with clean-up efforts after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, grants of up to $5000 are available for eligible not-for-profit organisations in disaster-declared areas.
With around 5000 clubs affected across South East Queensland, work is ongoing to assess the extent of the damage. Further financial assistance will be considered once damage assessments are complete to ensure clubs can return to full operation as quickly as possible.
Published 14-March-2025
