The starter’s gun has fired for the Sunshine Coast’s Olympic venues, with a $300 million funding commitment.
Three facilities were given the green light to progress to tender after state and federal funding was announced on Friday. It’s the largest ever investment in community sporting infrastructure in the region.
A $148 million Sunshine Coast Stadium expansion and a $142 million new Sunshine Coast Indoor Sports Centre in Kawana and a $14 million Sunshine Coast Mountain Bike Centre at Parklands are set to be delivered in 2027. The stadium expansion is expected to start later this year.
Sunshine Coast mayor Rosanna Natoli said the funding was a game-changer for the region, as it prepares to host multiple events at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“Today’s funding announcement follows years of research and planning and will deliver lasting economic and social benefits before, during and after hosting the Games,” she said.
“The validation process the projects went through, including independent panel reviews, was extensive and demonstrated the importance of these venues for our region.
“These venues will provide high-quality competition and training facilities for our local athletes, increase participation in sports and recreation across the region, and will have capacity to host major sporting events.
“That, in turn, attracts more tourism dollars which benefits our local businesses and their staff.
“I want to be very clear: these venues are being built for our community.
“They will provide a place to train, to play, to watch our favourite teams and to cheer on our kids from the sidelines.
“Importantly, these venues will be leading-edge in accessibility to accommodate the many para-sports, athletes and spectators in our region.”
Mayor Natoli said state and federal support was critical for large venues that boast state-of-the-art facilities and accessibility.
“With eight years to go to Brisbane 2032, I am thrilled that we are already seeing amazing outcomes for our community, and we will continue to work very hard to maximise every opportunity afforded to the Sunshine Coast as a result of the games,” she said.
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“We’ve waited a very long time for the Sunshine Coast Stadium to be expanded.
“Construction of this venue is on track to start later this year, creating an estimated 650 jobs.”
The funding announcement came after mayor Natoli backed the location of the indoor sports centre, although local MP Jarrod Bleijie and representatives of the Kawana Dolphins voiced their concerns for the future of the club if it had to make way for the venue.
It also came after an independent review of proposed venues for the 2032 Games essentially paved the way for the venues to be built.
The planning and design phase of the Sunshine Coast Indoor Sports Centre and Mountain Bike Centre will continue to progress, with construction of those two venues expected to start in 2025 and 2026 respectively.
The majority of capital funding for the three venues will come from the state and federal governments, with Sunshine Coast Council set to assume ownership and management of these venues once complete.
A host of representatives from various levels of government were at the Kawana Sports Precinct for the announcement.
Minister for State Development and Infrastructure Grace Grace said investment in local Olympic venues would deliver “lasting benefits”.
“Queensland’s golden decade of opportunity is here and we’re making the most of it,” she said.
“We are years ahead of other host nations in delivering competition venues this far ahead of the Games, which means they can be used by the local community and also attract high-calibre sport and entertainment events.
“There is still more than eight years to go. Sydney 2000 didn’t have a master plan until five years out.”
Assistant Minister for Regional Development Senator Anthony Chisholm said the venues would provide opportunities for many.
“These new and upgraded facilities won’t just benefit sporting communities on the Sunshine Coast, they’ll benefit all Queenslanders and those who travel here each year to take part in sporting events,” he said.
“With plans for Sunshine Coast rail underway, we’re focused on ensuring the infrastructure that the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games needs to be a success is delivered, and ensures a long-term transformational legacy is there for all to see following the Games.”
Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee president Andrew Liveris said organisers were in a “good position” to deliver the Games.
“The Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be the biggest event in Queensland’s history, delivering significant economic and social impact across the state and beyond,” he said.
“The sooner progress is made, the sooner people will be able to use these legacy assets – and that’s a good thing for one of the fastest growing regions in the country.”
Member for Caloundra Jason Hunt was delighted with the funding.
“How good is this?” he said.
“Right here on the Sunshine Coast, we will be home to new and upgraded venues that will be used for the 2032 Games.”
“The Sunny Coast is home to world class facilities already and the legacy from Brisbane 2032 builds on that and will last a lifetime.
“We have a great lifestyle here, and with new facilities on the horizon, the Sunshine Coast will be an even better place to call home.”
Member for Nicklin Rob Skelton said they would be “game-changing venues”.
“The Sunshine Coast Mountain Bike Centre, near my electorate of Nicklin, will be an asset for the community for decades to come, with the potential to draw thousands of extra visitors to our region”.
Sunshine Coast Basketball Association general manager Sean Page said local players looked forward to utilising the indoor sports centre.
“This world-class facility will allow the SCBA to better service our thousands of members from all over the Sunshine Coast, as well as provide space for several other indoor sports.” he said.
“This facility will also enable the SCBA attract state, national and international events to the region which benefits not only the SCBA, but the entire Sunshine Coast.”
Olympic venues
Sunshine Coast Stadium Expansion
- The expansion will deliver additional seating, taking total fixed seating capacity to more than 10,500. By utilising the mounds at the northern and southern ends, the stadium will have a total capacity of approximately 14,500.
- Additional temporary seating will be installed to boost the total seating capacity to 20,000 to accommodate the Olympic Games Brisbane 2032 football (soccer) matches.
- Early works will include the demolition of the western grandstand in 2024. Construction is planned to start in 2025 and is due for completion in 2027.
- $148 million has been primarily funded by Queensland and Australian governments and includes a $17 million contribution from council. This funding was committed by council in 2020 and reaffirmed in the Future Host Questionnaire (bid document) submitted to the International Olympics Committee in 2021.
Sunshine Coast Indoor Sports Centre
- A new international indoor sports centre that will have capacity for 11 courts and the ability to convert to a minimum 6000 seat show court.
- The indoor stadium will support a range of groups and sports, including basketball, netball, volleyball, pickleball, futsal and badminton.
- The design of the indoor sports centre meets top-level accessibility standards to accommodate para-athletes and patrons with a disability.
- The venue is proposed to host Olympic Games Brisbane 2032 Basketball preliminary games.
- Construction is planned to start in 2025 and is due for completion in 2027.
- $142 million will be funded by state and federal governments.
- Council is currently considering if it will contribute to enhance the Indoor Sports Centre to maximise its benefit as a community venue. The current plan is for items such as air conditioning, spectator seating and broadcast standard lighting to be brought in for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. During the upcoming budget process, council will consider if funding for these items should be provided to allow them to be permanent and add value to the Centre for both community and elite sport.
Sunshine Coast Mountain Bike Centre
- A key legacy opportunity with the development of our region’s first nature-based recreation precinct. It will host mountain biking, trail running, bushwalking, horse riding and multi-sport events at the site at Parklands, creating a network of adventure experiences across the Sunshine Coast region.
- It will include a new 5km mountain bike trail and multi-use trails and trail hub, including 200 bay carpark.
- Co-located with existing Parkland Conservation Park which already boasts more than 40km of trails.
- Construction to start in 2026. Due for completion in 2027.
- $14 million funded by Queensland and Australian government.
- Council is responsible for the cost to acquire the land for the new Mountain Bike Centre. Council will provide more information once negotiations with landholders are finalised.
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