North Queensland Cowboys Advance Plans for $30 Million Cairns High-Performance Centre

The North Queensland Toyota Cowboys are progressing plans for a proposed AUD$30 million Community, Development and High Performance Centre at West Barlow Park in Cairns, with the club preparing to lodge a formal development application with the Cairns Regional Council.

The project has already secured a AUD$15 million commitment from the Federal Government and is intended to serve as a future base for the Cowboys’ NRLW team and the Northern Pride, reflecting a broader investment in women’s sport and regional rugby league infrastructure in Far North Queensland.

The Cowboys’ Football Club and Leagues Club boards convened in Cairns to discuss the facility’s development and future investment opportunities in the region. Discussions also included plans to establish a dedicated social venue for the club in Cairns to strengthen its community footprint.

Cowboys chairman Lewis Ramsay said the meeting helped align stakeholders around the club’s regional growth strategy. “We are preparing to lodge a development application in the near future, with a view to commencing construction at West Barlow Park in early 2026,” Ramsay said.

“The meeting reinforced strong local support for our vision, and we remain committed to delivering a facility that provides lasting community and sporting benefits for the region.”

In addition to serving as a high-performance centre, the facility will be available to other sporting organisations in Cairns and the broader Far North Queensland area, mirroring the operational model of the Cowboys’ existing Hutchinson Builders Centre in Townsville.

The project is part of the club’s long-term infrastructure strategy to support athlete development and enhance community engagement through accessible, shared-use facilities.

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