PREMIER ANNOUNCES SLAM DUNK FOR HEGVOLD

Premier of Queensland Anna Bligh visited Rockhampton today and brought great news for fans of Hegvold Stadium.

Ms Bligh inspected the ongoing work at the Rockhampton Riverbank with Member for Rockhampton Robert Schwarten, and took the opportunity to announce funding to enable an upgrade Hegvold Stadium into a multi-purpose events centre.

“The Rockhampton Riverbank development will revitalise the Fitzroy Riverside, and Robert has been very keen for me to come and have a look at what has been achieved,” Ms Bligh said.

“It is clear that the Riverbank is going to be a real social centre for Rockhampton, and I want to ensure it has all the facilities that it needs to be a cracking success.

“Today we are announcing that as part of this development we will spend $1 million upgrading Hegvold Stadium to turn it into a multi-purpose events centre. The money will be spent on initiatives such as roofing.

“Having a multi purpose centre will value add to the public infrastructure which our government has provided at the Riverbank.

I am sure it will be put to many uses for the many public functions and festivals that this area will host.

“Local basketball players will be pleased, as this money is the first step to turning Hegvold into a state of the art basketball centre.”

Mr Schwarten said he was proud to show off the ongoing work on Rockhampton Riverbank to the new Premier.

“We will have spent nearly $16 million bringing life to the Riverbank, and all the work will be finished at the end of the year.

“I think the people of Rockhampton are going to be over the moon with what we have achieved in this project, and this multi function centre will really cap it off.

“Rockhampton is rapidly becoming Queensland centre for the rural and agricultural events– if not Australia – and this is another venue will attract more business here.

“This is a very common sense decision and a win-win for the people of Rockhampton and good outcome for basketball enthusiasts.

“I am not much good at shooting hoops myself, but I know this is a real slam dunk for them.

Media contact: Premiers Office (07) 3224 4500

Mr Schwarten’s Rockhampton Office (07) 4927 5299