Decade-long deal secured for Australian Surf Life Saving Championships at Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast

A major deal has locked in the Sunshine Coast as one of two Queensland hosts for the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships over the next decade.

A major decade-long deal has been secured for the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast to host the country’s pinnacle surf lifesaving event.

The Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, or the Aussies, will be shared by the two regions across eight events between 2023 and 2032, with more than $100 million to be generated towards the State Government’s Covid-19 Economic Recovery Plan.

Tourism and Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said Tourism and Events Queensland had secured the agreement in partnership with Major Events Gold Coast (MEGC) and Sunshine Coast Council.

It’s a major coup for the region, with this year’s Aussies on the Sunshine Coast generating more than 78,000 visitor room nights, and $16 million for local businesses.

The event welcomes more than 7000 competitors annually from more than 315 Australian clubs.

“The experience on the Sunshine Coast this year demonstrates the value of this event to our visitor economy, particularly now the championships are locked in for Queensland over the next decade,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“It’s a win for regional Queensland and a win for surf lifesaving.”

Member for Caloundra Jason Hunt said the deal could help the region mark a major milestone in coming years.

“I would like to think the Sunshine Coast will be a strong contender for the 2024 championships to mark the Alexandra Headland surf club’s centenary celebrations,” he said.

Maroochydore's Adam Palmer, Oliver Monaghan and Sam Short won the under-19 Taplin relay at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships on the Sunshine Coast in 2021. Picture: Harvpix

April’s event was split across Maroochydore, Alexandra Headland and Mooloolaba beaches over nine days.

It was the first Aussies since 2019 after last year’s event was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Coast clubs fared well in the medal tally, with plenty of standout performances. 

Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson said he was delighted to have certainty that the national surf lifesaving championships will be returning to Sunshine Coast beaches again after outstanding events in 2016 and 2021.

“This new deal reinforces and helps to cement our long-standing reputation as a great location for surf lifesaving events as well as providing an opportunity for visitors from across the nation to experience everything our region has to offer,” he said.

Surf Life Saving Australia President John Baker ESM said he is looking forward to the eight editions of The Aussies in Queensland from 2023 to 2032.

“We are deeply grateful to our major sponsors in Tourism and Events Queensland who, without their support, an event the size of The Aussies simply can’t go ahead,” Mr Baker said.

“To be able to lock in eight editions of The Aussies, our membership will be looking forward to returning to the sunny beaches of the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast in Queensland again.”