Nationals bid pushes flexibility

THE Sunshine Coast consortium bidding for the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships says events could be staged in the Maroochy River and Lake Kawana.

THE Sunshine Coast consortium bidding for the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships says events could be staged in the Maroochy River and Lake Kawana if needed.

The volatility of Gold Coast beach Kurrawa has been thrust into the spotlight this week following the inquest into the death of ironman Saxon Bird at last year’s championship.

The inquest found that due to cyclonic conditions, competition should have been suspended on the day of Bird’s death.

Kurrawa is an east-facing open beach known for its big surf. A two-metre swell was pounding the beach during last year’s event.

Sunshine Coast bid chairman Scott Derwin said his committee had outlined how if bad conditions were present at Maroochydore and Alexandra Headland, competition could be shifted to north-facing Mooloolaba, which was more protected from swell.

“A strong part of our case was that we have very good back-up facilities,” he told the Daily yesterday.

“Mooloolaba is predominately north facing and if easterly conditions are bad, Mooloolaba will generally be okay. Beyond that we made the point that we have back-up facilities in the Maroochy River and the regatta area opposite Quad Park at Kawana Lakes.

“If worse came to worse, we can move the swim, boat and craft events to those areas.”

The consortium had hoped to have learned its fate by now but a decision is yet to be made on where the 2013 championships will be held.

Derwin said the Sunshine Coast bid team was hoping SLSA would reach a decision at a board meeting on August 21.

“We’re not 100% sure (about when we’ll find out), but I’d say it’s a 90% chance that they’ll have to make a decision by then,” he said.

“In respect to 2013 and 2014, there needs to be decisions for them and we’re hoping they’ll make a longer term decision too.

“They’ve got a long-term program from 2010-2022, but making one decision impacts on other years as well.

“We’d like to know as soon as possible, but we understand it takes some time.”

The constortium lodged its bid with SLSA in late April.

“If worse came to worse, we can move the swim, boat and craft events”

Originally published as Nationals bid pushes flexibility