General News
16 April, 2025
Major makeovers for Atherton clubs
NEARLY half a million dollars of funding has been put towards the major upgrades of two key sporting clubs in Atherton, with Minister for Sport and Racing Tim Mander who travelled north to officially open the new facilities.
The Atherton Bowls Club received a grant of $190,000 to have a new bowling green installed while the Atherton Golf Club received a co-contributed grant of about $300,000 to have 1.2km of concrete cart paths built.
Also in attendance at the openings was Member for Kennedy Bob Katter, Member for Barron River Bree James, Member for Hill Shane Knuth, Tablelands Mayor Rod Marti and other dignitaries including representatives from Queensland Sport and Recreation.
Bowls Club secretary Beth Johnston said attaining funding to install a new green was very important and could help boost the club’s member numbers.
“We’re extremely grateful, it’s a lot of money for a small club to get. Especially in this time with all the floods and everything, we’re just really grateful,” she said.
“The new green is very important. The old one was 16 years old and was getting a lot of mould, just a lot of general wear and tear too.
“I think it will help us to attract new members.”
The Atherton Golf Club project cost an estimated $300,000, with the club contributing to approximately 25-30% of that and the rest from the government grant.
Club president Kerry Duck said the new cart paths were vital in allowing the club’s members to play year-round and provided an avenue for players to be able to use carts in wet weather conditions.
“The paths are extremely important. They’ve allowed the club and its members to be able to play the course at times when normally they could only walk,” he said.
“So, people that are elderly, and we do have a lot of elderly members, and where it’s beyond walking for them, they can use carts and the paths to be able to play even in very extreme weather conditions. The club is extremely grateful.”
