World-first aquatic centre a ‘must build’ for Swimming Australia move

Swimming Australia would tear up plans to relocate to Brisbane if the state government does not build a world-first National Aquatics Centre for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Artist impression of Swimming Australia's proposed National Aquatics Centre (NAC) at Spring Hill.

Swimming Australia would tear up plans to relocate its head office to Brisbane if the state government does not build a world-first National Aquatics Centre for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The sporting body’s bold proposal to create a $650m, five pool centre for swimming, water polo, diving and artistic swimming was handed to the state’s 100-day infrastructure review last month.

Part of the new centre at Centenary Pool would include a new head office for Swimming Australia, which is currently located in Melbourne.

However, Swimming Australia chief executive officer Rob Woodhouse told the Toward the Games podcast his organisation would review plans to relocate if the National Aquatics Centre is not built.

“Would we move up? I think that would be unlikely, but we’d review all that, obviously, after we find out whether it will be part of the plan or not,” he said.

“We have a head office based here in Melbourne. We have satellite offices in Brisbane and in Sydney as well.”

Diving and water polo are based in Brisbane while artistic swimming is headquartered in Perth.

Artist impression of Swimming Australia's proposed National Aquatics Centre.

The National Aquatics Centre at Victoria Park would provide significant legacy opportunities for the four sports, Woodhouse said, and grow participation in swimming.

“We do anticipate growing a sport and growing a spectator base, the fan base, and bringing more fans in,” he said.

“If we’ve got a bigger venue we will fill it.”

Woodhouse cited the 8500-seat sellout of the 1999 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships when Susie O’Neill broke the world record for the 200m butterfly.

“If we have a stadium big enough we can sell it out at the big events that we create,” he said.

Olympic and Paralympic swimming was slated to be held at a drop-in venue at Brisbane Arena during the 2032 Games.

It will follow Los Angeles 2028, which will use SoFi stadium to temporarily deliver the world’s largest swimming stadium.

Woodhouse slapped down suggestions Brisbane could use Suncorp Stadium, revealing the sport was more interested in a legacy after the Games.

“There are challenges with places like Suncorp, because you need to put a roof over it,” he said.

“The most important thing for us as a sport and the other three aquatic sports is actually having a legacy out of the Games.

“It’s not the Games themselves, it’s that legacy and without an aquatic centre it’s really difficult to see any legacy for swimming, diving, water polo and artistic swimming.”