CQU is part-way through sports facility upgrades worth millions of dollars, which will benefit students, staff and the whole regional community.

CQU's Health and Human Performance Associate Professor Peter Reaburn and CQU's General Manager of Commercial Operations Paul Lancaster have both welcomed the upgrades.

Around $1 million worth of works recently completed or underway include:

- A near-doubling of gymnasium space and new gym equipment, along with a new gym entrance, a pool upgrade (filtration and painting), and new toilets and change rooms for the pool and gym;

- A purpose-built Health and PE teaching space in the sports centre precinct;

- An upgrade of the sports stadium floor;

- New lights for the covered basketball court;

- Refurbishment of tennis and netball courts;

Work has already started on the sports stadium floor

The CQU Council has also just approved expenditure of $2.9 million to air-condition the sports stadium and to add a mezzanine floor, providing office space for CQU's Health and Human Performance and Health and PE sections, and spectator viewing areas.

In addition, the University is hoping for success in its submission to the Federal Government for almost $900,000 to provide a synthetic running track, lighting for outdoor courts, sunscreens over the pool and change rooms for the existing rugby and soccer fields.

Mr Lancaster said CQU the redevelopment was part of a strategic plan five years in the making which will finally see the completion of the sports precinct to a standard Central Queenslanders can be proud of.

"The support of the community, business and Rockhampton City Council set the seeds for the project and CQU has now seen fit to complete the dream for the benefit of students, staff and the whole community," Mr Lancaster said.

"Like all facilities it will have significant operational running costs which will be defrayed through commercial activities including memberships and casual facility hire as well as long term user arrangements. It is important for the community to remember that this facility is not just for students - community groups and clubs are encouraged to enquire about availability".

Associate Professor Reaburn said the expansion opened up opportunities for Human Movement Science students and students from many other programs to learn in a relevant environment and for greater interaction between students, community members and athletes from a wide variety of local, regional, state and national level sports.

The North Queensland Academy of Sport has already shown interest in investing in the new Sport Centre as a Centre of Excellence for Training.

"The redevelopment of the Sport Centre will facilitate our ability to develop student skills within the fitness industry and sport and event management areas.

"We are also working with the Rockhampton health care providors and key stakeholders to develop a healthy lifestyles clinic that will enable undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and research and strong community engagement. The clinic will coordinate preventative and rehabilitative behaviour change programs that will focus on improving self management of chronic health conditions," he said. ENDS For details contact Paul Lancaster on p.lancaster@cqu.edu.au