Plans to transform the recreation area at William Taylor Memorial Sportsfield have reached the construction tender stage, with Redland City Council seeking a head contractor to deliver a new district-level skatepark, BMX track and a wider collection of recreation facilities at Thorneside.
The tender marks another significant step in the long-running redevelopment of the Mooroondu Road precinct, where other Stage 2 improvements to parking and drainage are already under way.
Council opened the recreation-zone tender in September, with submissions due to close at 2:00pm on 7 October. As at 30 September, no contractor had been appointed for the package.
Much More Than a New Skatepark
The work now out to tender goes considerably further than replacing the existing skate facilities.
Council is seeking a head contractor for a new district-level skatepark and upgraded BMX track, alongside a new pétanque arena, basketball court and rebound wall. A park shelter, furniture, connecting pathways, new amenities and pathway lighting also appear in the published scope.
For BMX riders, the project would replace the existing jump track with a more substantial facility incorporating new obstacles and challenges.
The skatepark represents a change in scale as well. Council currently lists William Taylor’s existing facility for beginner bike, skate, scooter and inline use, while the replacement is planned as a district-level facility.
The pétanque area will remain part of the sporting mix, albeit in a new form. Council has described the existing court as well used, with a replacement facility and associated infrastructure incorporated into the redevelopment.
Riders Put Their Mark on the Plans
What is now moving through procurement has been shaped over several years rather than emerging as a single construction proposal.
Council first sought community views about William Taylor in 2021, followed by consultation on the wider site layout in 2022. The precinct-wide master plan was eventually endorsed in October 2025.
Skaters and BMX riders were invited back into the process the following month, when workshops gave participants an opportunity to mark up designs and discuss individual features with the project team.
Among the suggestions were changes intended to improve the skatepark’s functionality. BMX participants supported a clear starting point and different riding lines for varying abilities, while replacing the dirt riding surface with asphalt was favoured for durability.
One Part of a Bigger Transformation
While the recreation package is still going through procurement, work elsewhere at William Taylor is already under way.
Car park and drainage improvements began earlier in 2026, including an extension of parking towards Frank Street, drainage works, lighting, a turnaround area and new loading and drop-off arrangements.
The endorsed master plan ultimately provides for about 70 additional parking spaces across the precinct, including accessible spaces and drop-off areas, taking the planned total to 118.
The recreation upgrade is backed by $5.71 million jointly contributed by the Australian and Queensland Governments through the South East Queensland Liveability Fund, with Council also contributing funding to the current stage.
Earlier planning material has included other features, among them a playground and a possible dog off-leash area. Neither is named in Council’s published summary of the current construction tender, although their absence from that package does not establish that they have been removed from the wider plan.
Tender First, Then the Builders
For now, the recreation area remains on the procurement side of the construction line.
Tender submissions are scheduled to close on 7 October, after which Council can assess bids and move towards appointing a contractor. Procurement information points to an expected decision in November, while Council’s project material anticipates work on the recreation zone beginning in late 2026.
The funded stage is targeted for completion by June 2027, subject to factors that can affect construction programs, including weather and site conditions.
Beyond that are further stages covering the playing fields, sporting infrastructure and clubhouse facilities. Those works remain separate from the recreation package now being put to market.
Published 30-September-2026
