The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys’ vision for year-round, boots-on-the-ground in Cairns took a significant step forward today with the announcement that a re-elected Miles Labor Government will commit $15 million to build the first stage of a Community, Development and High Performance Centre in Cairns that will also house the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS).
Chairman Lewis Ramsay thanked Sports Minister and Member for Cairns Michael Healy for the commitment which provides meaningful progress towards the realisation of the club’s vision for growth within our footprint, focussed on Cairns and Far North Queensland.
“Cairns is a city and community which is the backbone of the Far North and has ambitions to become Australia’s foremost location for elite women’s sport.
“Today’s announcement from Minister Healy on behalf of Premier Steven Miles will help to deliver permanent infrastructure and a new home for the Cowboys NRLW squad and Cowboys northern affiliate team, the Northern Pride, alongside co-tenants QAS, in the Barlow Park precinct.
“We are very thankful that this election promise means fifty percent of the estimated build cost has been secured for the new Centre which will bring economic benefits and enhance community wellbeing for all Far North Queenslanders.
“Since inception, our club has encapsulated the largest geographical footprint in the NRL and has been proud to represent all North Queenslanders on and off the field. To date, the day-to-day operations of the club and football teams have been centralised in Townsville, complemented by a year-round calendar of community engagement with other towns in our footprint.
“With the multi-million dollar upgrade to Barlow Park, spurred on by the upcoming 2032 Olympics, the Cowboys NRLW team and Northern Pride’s game day would be played in state-of-the-art facilities in front of members and supporters who have immense passion for the game of rugby league.”
Ramsay said the club’s vision was not restricted to day-to-day rugby league operations, but also included the wider Far North Queensland Community and economy.
“The club’s vision for Cairns also involves opening a licensed venue to provide a social home for our teams, locals and visitors to enjoy the region’s hospitality and barrack for their club,” he said.
“So far in 2024 the Cowboys’ community and game development department has devoted more than 1300 hours conducting player and ambassador visits around North Queensland. With year-round administration facilities available to us via a new Cairns-based Community, Development and High Performance Centre, we will be able to increase both the frequency and length of these visits in Cairns and surrounding areas to promote physical and mental health as well as school attendance.
“There would also be the opportunity to introduce popular Townsville-based community programs such as Adopt-a-School and Dream, Believe, Achieve, while expanding on the current delivery in Cairns of the very successful Try for Five! School Attendance program.
“Over the last 10 years the Cowboys have invested more than $5 million for the purpose of building the prosperity of the Cairns community and the sport of rugby league. We have done this by financially supporting the Northern Pride, bringing trial games bi-yearly to Barlow Park, which raises funds for Far North Queensland Rugby League, and conducting school and community visits which build resilience, support education and provide inspiration.
“Our vision, with co-investment from all levels of government will bring significant economic benefits, create jobs and enhance community wellbeing. The construction of the Community, Development and High Performance Centre will result in $34.7 million output for the local area, contribute $12.5 million to the gross regional product and create the equivalent of 89 full time jobs.
“The ongoing operation of the Centre and having our NRLW team located in Cairns would result in an ongoing $12.6 million contribution to the Cairns economy annually, supporting the equivalent of 62 full time jobs.”
Ramsay said the Far North Queensland community had contributed immensely to the success of the Cowboys since its inception in 1995.
“The people of Cairns and the Far North Queensland region have long-embraced the Cowboys. Thirty seven of our Mens NRL Team old-boys started their rugby league journey in the heartland of the Far North and today almost 70,000 fans and members reside there and proudly show their support of the club with their purchases representing more than 15 per cent of overall merchandise sales through our Team Shop.
“It is our firm belief that delivering the new Community Development and High Performance Centre will make a palpable and ongoing difference to all those who call Far North Queensland home as well as elite sportswomen who would be proud to make it their home-base.”
Ramsay also reinforced the vision for Far North Queensland would not affect the club’s Townsville operation.
“Our proposed expansion of operations in Cairns represents a permanent stake in the ground in the Far North of our footprint for both our football and community teams,” he said.
“It allows us to continue to evolve and ensure that all of North Queensland remains Cowboys heartland and provides the opportunity for our club to impact more people, more often.
“We know from our data analysis that Cairns and the far north are huge followers of rugby league and of the Cowboys, yet not every fan can get to Cowboys games in Townsville. This decision has been born out of a desire to help those fans feel closer to our Club.
“Our vision for the Far North is not about changing how we operate in Townsville, it’s centred on ensuring the Cowboys continue to grow and remain sustainable for generations to come within our entire North Queensland footprint.”
