Water Polo Australia considers moving headquarters to Brisbane

A third national sporting organisation is considering moving its footprint to South East Queensland in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

Queensland could become the permanent home of water polo with its national boss saying it was a “timely conversation” to discuss the move.

Water Polo Australia, based at Stadium Australia in Sydney, is the third national sporting organisation following the Australian Institute of Sport and AusCycling to be considering its footprint in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

With no purpose-built water polo facilities across Australia, The Courier-Mail can reveal Water Polo Queensland is consulting with clubs about developing a base in the southeast.

WPA chief executive Richard McInnes said it was a “timely conversation” to discuss developing the sport’s first purpose-built facility, but insisted planning was in its infancy.

“We would love to have our own HQ facility,” he said.

“It’s not something that’s readily available and inexpensive to run.”

Australian women's water polo goalkeeper, Gabi Palm alongside junior players from the Brisbane Baracudas, Clem Cooke and Orla Arthur. Picture: Zak Simmonds

It is understood southeast Queensland water polo clubs and the state organisation is preparing a feasibility study before taking a plan to the Palaszczuk Government.

Details and the location of the water polo facility are not finalised, but it is understood the state government will be open to working with the sport to lure it to Queensland.

The women’s water polo program is supported by Queensland Academy of Sport through medical, coaching and training support, while the entire Stingers water polo squad trained on the Sunshine Coast before travelling to Tokyo.

Mr McInnes, a former national cricket coach and proud Queenslander, said it was vital water polo would focus on “growing awareness” of the sport over the next decade.

He said water polo was a “late-maturing sport” with most athletes aged between 28 and 30-years old – meaning most of the likely Brisbane 2032 competitors were already 18-years old and in the organisation’s system.

“They’re not the 10 and 12-year olds a lot of sports are chasing now,” Mr McInnes said.

The former Queensland Firebirds high-performance manager said Brisbane’s 2032 Games would deliver decades of benefits.

“Home Olympics are a once in a generation opportunity and every sport will be leveraging that,” he said.

“I understand the benefits and values of South East Queensland.

“It’s an exciting time for sport generally.”

This week The Courier-Mail revealed the Australian Institute of Sport had expressed an interest in moving some of its facilities to Brisbane in 2018 under a deal worth upwards of $50m.

AusCycling is also considering increasing its presence at Chandler’s Anna Meares Velodrome, which is considered the sport’s best training ground in Australia.