Work has started on the $250,000 pickleball project at Cox Park in Lota, but the arrival of machinery has not ended the argument over how the site was chosen.
Earthmoving began on 24 August after fencing went up around the work area. Council lists works through 18 September, weather permitting, while some residents continue to press for answers about the decision-making process and the response to their petition opposing the location.
Earlier petition sought pickleball courts in Wynnum
Council records show the original petition was presented on 5 September 2023 by former Cr Sara Whitmee and asked Council to construct pickleball courts in Wynnum.
It attracted 106 signatures, including 55 from residents of Wynnum Manly Ward. Another 43 signatories lived in other Brisbane wards and eight lived outside the city.
Council’s response at the time also referred to a separate proposal involving the Wynnum Tennis Association at 1 Colina Street, Wynnum. The association had been working with Council on plans for four dedicated pickleball courts at its leased site and had sought approval to apply for grant funding.
The estimated cost of those courts, including fencing and lighting, was $300,000. Council said the proposed facility would help accommodate a growing number of pickleball players across Wynnum, Manly and Lota.
Council also said it did not plan to install additional pickleball courts in Wynnum at that time. The petitioners’ request would instead be considered as part of future capital works planning, subject to competing citywide priorities.
The request was found to meet the requirements of the Suburban Enhancement Fund and was referred to Wynnum Manly Cr Alex Givney for consideration. Cox Park in Lota was selected for the $250,000 project.
The Wynnum Manly Community Group has questioned that process, arguing that support for pickleball courts in Wynnum should not automatically be treated as support for building them at Cox Park.
A later petition asking Council to reconsider the Cox Park location attracted 125 signatures, including 119 from within Wynnum Manly Ward, according to figures cited by the group. Residents involved in the campaign say work began before they received a substantive response to the concerns raised in that petition.
Noise, access and location remain at the centre of objections
Opposition has centred on more than petition numbers. Residents have raised concerns about noise, parking, the distance between the courts and nearby homes, the proximity of other park facilities, future management arrangements and whether alternative sites were adequately considered.
Residents have also sought details about how the courts will be managed and what public access arrangements will apply. Claims about possible leasing arrangements and fees have circulated locally, but no verified lease or access terms were available for this report.
Noise has remained one of the most consistent complaints. Pickleball is played with a hard plastic ball and paddle, producing a distinctive sharp sound that some nearby residents fear will carry into surrounding homes.
Shift workers and other residents living near Cox Park have previously raised concerns about sleep disruption and the broader effect of regular court use on nearby properties.
Council says feedback changed the final layout
Givney has previously acknowledged that communication with residents could have been better and apologised for not engaging as effectively as intended.
She later met with residents at Cox Park, and Council has said feedback from those discussions influenced the final layout. One of the changes involved moving the proposed courts further into the park.
Givney told residents in July that the courts would be at least 50 metres from properties. One nearby resident later disputed the final distance and asked for work to be paused.
Council has maintained that the approval process was transparent and that consultation resulted in changes to the project.
Earlier plans also included seating and replacing the old netball hardstand with turf, although removal of the hardstand has since been deferred.
Supporters back new recreation facilities at Cox Park
The project also has local supporters, including Lota residents who have welcomed dedicated pickleball facilities and described the expenditure as a worthwhile investment in recreation.
Some supporters have pointed to the condition of the existing hard courts, saying they are cracked and in need of replacement. Others have argued that Cox Park already serves a sporting and recreational purpose and is an appropriate place for new facilities.
Supporters have also cited the growth of pickleball and demand for dedicated playing space across the Wynnum, Manly and Lota area. Residents campaigning against the Cox Park project have repeatedly said their objection is to the location and process rather than to the sport itself.
Published 28-Aug-2026
