Tony Abbott pledges $5m towards Brisbane Broncos grounds expansion
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has taken his federal election campaign back to Brisbane where he promised funding for the Broncos to expand its grounds.
Mr Abbott was greeted by Queensland Premier Campbell Newman at the Broncos Leagues Club at Red Hill this morning.
Mr Newman says part of a the Ithaca TAFE campus will be turned into a new training facility for the Broncos.
The LNP Government has given in-principle support to a $21 million plan that will see a new football field and high performance training facility built on the site, opposite the Broncos club.
Mr Newman says much of the land opposite the club is "under-utilised".
"It's not like we're seeing a bit of land go to build a high-rise building on it or something like that," he said.
"That's what the previous government was going to do - this whole site of the TAFE was going to be sold off for medium-density housing.
"What we're getting here instead is ... a sports training facility on it, but there's going to be a great big piece of green space - a sporting field, where all families can come and enjoy that."
If elected, Mr Abbott says the Federal Coalition will provide $5 million to build a gym.
"Five million dollars from the Commonwealth towards a $21 million upgrade I think is a relatively modest contribution," Mr Abbott said.
Broncos chief executive officer Paul White is relieved.
"This morning's commitment from the State Government does reassure us as a club that we can remain here at Red Hill, which is our spiritual home," he said.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-2...ansion/4902090