BMTA’s new clubhouse at Whites Hill Reserve was officially opened by Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Councillor Adrian Schrinner on Saturday 30th October, 2022

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The new clubhouse, a $4.15 million project funded by Brisbane City Council in partnership with the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, features modern office spaces, a commercial café, unisex amenities, referee changerooms and a visually striking 630m2 accessible undercover pavilion.

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Following formal proceedings the doors were thrown open with hundreds of people to enjoy a community welcome, with an inflatable obstacle course, live music by local musician, Mike Willimott and fresh food and drinks served by the Café + Bar on Whites Hill. The new café will be open to the public for breakfast and lunch, Wednesday to Sunday as well as catering for touch football competitions and events.

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Brisbane Metropolitan Touch Association General Manager, Christopher Davis said the opening represented the start of an exciting new chapter in the history of the association.

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“Our affiliate started 49 years ago, and we have spent the last 34 of those at Whites Hill Reserve. Over that time we have grown to be the largest affiliated touch competition in the country with over 10,000 members playing in our competitions each year. Whites Hill Reserve is Brisbane’s only dedicated touch football facility and this new clubhouse gives the members a home they can be proud of. One that is modern and meets both the current and future needs of our association, while also maximising the natural outdoor beauty of Whites Hill,” said Mr Davis.

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Chairman of BMTA, Michael Saxby said that “The new clubhouse represents the culmination of years of hard work by the current and former board members of BMTA working in partnership with Brisbane City Council to achieve this fantastic outcome. This new facility supports the excellent grounds and recently installed LED lighting system to position BMTA and the Whites Hill Reserve as a premium touch football venue suited to domestic, interstate and international events. We are very excited to showcase this venue in years to come.”

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Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Adrian Schrinner said that “Sport is intrinsic to Brisbane and local sporting clubs like the Brisbane Metropolitan Touch Association are often the beating heart of our suburbs. As we head down the green and gold runway to Brisbane 2032, I have no doubt this new clubhouse will become a gathering place for Brisbane’s future sporting stars. Councillor Krista Adams and I have both been huge supporters of this project and I’m proud to have been able to help deliver such an incredible asset for the local community.”

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The old clubhouse was built in 1992 on the site of the old Whites Hill waste centre when membership was less than half of the current numbers. The first plans for a duplication of the clubhouse were drawn up in 2008, with the current design first considered in 2017 following continued land subsidence and concerns relating to methane gas emissions. In 2021 Brisbane City Council committed to funding of the upgrade with the support of the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program. The project was completed by JMac Constructions, one of the industry’s leading commercial landscape companies, who also completed construction of the exploration playground in 2014.

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The clubhouse upgrade is the fourth major infrastructure project completed in as many years, following construction of a new maintenance shed in 2020, the opening of the ring road in 2021 and an upgrade to Regional standard LED floodlighting earlier this year.

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BMTA would like to thank everyone who has played a role in bringing the new clubhouse to life, including Cr Krista Adams and Lord Mayor, Councillor Adrian Schrinner, the Australian Government, many tireless working Brisbane City Council employees, past and current board members including Chairs Kristen White, John Masters & Michael Saxby, past and current General Managers and all of the staff and members who have worked with BMTA over an interrupted couple of years while the project was completed.

 

Excitingly, the opening of the clubhouse also saw the announcement of a new 5-year Naming Rights sponsorship with Motorline BMW an Motorline MINI Garage.

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For more information on the project, head to the Brisbane City Council website