Female participation in sport on the Gold Coast has grown by almost 50 per cent since 2021. However, this rapid growth has exposed a significant issue regarding a lack of appropriate facilities designed for women.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate noted that the surge in female athletes “has highlighted a need to modernise sporting facilities beyond the traditional male oriented design”. For decades, infrastructure at community sports grounds has largely catered to male competitors. [Information missing on specific historical facility inadequacies or personal accounts from female athletes].
To address this shortfall, a $10 million programme is underway to deliver dedicated female changerooms across the city. Construction on new modular buildings will commence mid-year. These updated facilities will feature toilets, showers and change areas specifically for female competitors.
The City evaluated 18 team sports, identifying AFL, football, rugby league, rugby union and cricket as experiencing the highest levels of growing female participation. From this review, eight clubs across these five sports will receive modular changerooms during stage one of the rollout.
The clubs benefiting from the initial $10 million allocation this financial year include the Currumbin Eagles Rugby League Football Club, Coomera Crushers Rugby Union Club, Robina City Soccer Club, Palm Beach Soccer Club, Coomera Cutters Rugby League Club, Helensvale Hornets Rugby League Football Club, Tallebudgera Tigers Football Club, and the Helensvale Pacific Pines Hawkes Cricket Club.
Mayor Tate emphasised the importance of modernising facilities ahead of upcoming major events. “Participation and spectatorship in women’s sport will continue to grow in the lead‑up to Brisbane 2032, which is why we are investing in these facilities now,” he said. “We’ve seen spectators filling Gold Coast stadium recently for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup and programs like this ensure females have the facilities they need to both participate and excel”.
Planning is currently taking place to identify additional sporting clubs that require dedicated female facilities, with further investment promised for future stages.
Clubs receiving modular changeroom as part of Stage 1:
- Merv Craig Sporting Complex – Currumbin Eagles Rugby League Football Club
- Coomera Sports Park – Coomera Crushers Rugby Union Club
- Robina Common – Robina City Soccer Club
- Mallawa Sports Complex – Palm Beach Soccer Club
- Coomera Sports Park – Coomera Cutters Rugby League Club
- Robert Dalley Park – Helensvale Hornets Rugby League Football Club
- Coplicks Family Sports Park – Tallebudgera Tigers Football Club
- Hession Park – Helensvale Pacific Pines Hawkes Cricket Club.
