Cairns Hockey rolls forward with their recovery from Tropical Cyclone Jasper

7 August 2025

The impact of natural disasters on community sporting fields is often profound, with damaged surfaces making fixtures impossible. 

This was the dire situation for Cairns Hockey Association, a Far North sporting favourite, which was engulfed by floodwaters following Tropical Cyclone Jasper in December 2023.

The club's Reef pitch copped the brunt of the inundation, displacing the critical underlay of the artificial playing turf. 

This damage rendered the pitch unplayable, disrupting Cairns Hockey activities and forcing the cancellation of many high-profile events.

Acknowledging the importance of Cairns Hockey as a central pillar of the region’s sporting and social fabric, the club received a $250,000 Sport and Recreation Recovery Grant to support the restoration of their facilities.

The grant program is one of many extraordinary support measures funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) in response to Tropical Cyclone Jasper.

Cairns Hockey used their grant to carry out the urgent replacement of their Reef pitch and its underlay. 

Working at speed to try and salvage their upcoming competition schedule, the club completed their pitch upgrade in October 2024, perfectly timed for the start of another busy summer full of local, state and international events.

The upgraded Reef pitch meets the highest standards in the sport and has received Category 3 certification from the International Hockey Federation. 

This stamp of approval signals to the region, country, and the rest of the world that Cairns is open for business and ready to host high-level hockey on the regular.

Importantly, the Cairns Hockey community and broader Far North reaped benefits of the DRFA investment almost immediately.

With enthusiasm rebounding, the club hosted a series of prestigious events in 2024-25, including the:

  • Under-18 Men's State Championships
  • International Trans-Tasman Challenge
  • Great Barrier Reef Masters Games
  • Masters Women State Championships.

These successful events and others have not only cemented Cairns Hockey's reputation as a premier sports venue of the north, but have also brought a surge of economic and community benefits to the region.

The outcomes showcase the positive role sports play in disaster recovery, boosting health, wellbeing and connection.

The new pitch has also proven a shining example of environmental sustainability. 

Following its restoration, the Reef pitch now requires one-third less water for its maintenance, significantly reducing operational costs for Cairns Hockey.

With its world-class facilities, bursting events calendar, and sustainable practices, Cairns Hockey Association is entering an exciting new era as it builds on a proud legacy stretching back close to a century.

The Sport and Recreation Recovery Grants are part of a broader $13.23 million commitment by the Australian and Queensland Governments through the DRFA to support Far North sporting clubs following Tropical Cyclone Jasper.

The pitch was submerged under 30cm of water during Jasper
The destructive rains of Tropical Cyclone Jasper in late 2023 saw Cairns Hockey pitch submerged under 30cm of water.
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The sub-layer of the pitch was damaged making the surface uneven
Water inundation left the sub-layer of the pitch badly damaged, making the surface uneven and unsuitable for hockey.
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The damaged surface meant fixtures had to be cancelled until repairs were completed
The significant damage to the playing surface meant the club had to cancel local hockey fixtures until repairs were completed.
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The brand new pitch for the Cairns Hockey Association is scoring goals for far north Queensland
A brand new pitch, funded by the Australian and Queensland Government's through Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), has allowed Cairns Hockey Association to keep scoring goals for Far North Queensland.
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