Manly Warringah Gymnastics Club received $5m to build centre of excellence on derelict bowling club site
In what has been described as a “historic moment’ for sport on the northern beaches, the future of a new world-class gymnastics centre looks set after it secured a massive sum of cash.
Manly
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A $10 million world-class gymnastics and indoor centre to be built on the northern beaches looks to have “stuck the landing” after receiving a $5m government contribution to secure its future.
It comes after the Manly-Warringah Gymnastics Club (MWGC) launched a public plea early last year for donations, sponsorships and grants amid concerns of a funding shortfall.
This masthead reported last February that the club had gathered about 60 per cent of the money needed for the “Centre of Excellence”, but still had to find another $4.5m for the build.
But now, due to the federal government providing a $5.15m grant through its Thriving Suburbs Program, the club can start transforming the derelict former North Manly Bowling Club into a state-of-the-art gymnastics and “multi-sport” facility.
The club had already secured some cash through the NSW Government’s Centre of Excellence Fund.
As part of a public-private partnership with Northern Beaches Council, the MWGC will lease the site at Nolan Reserve and pay to build the $10.3m 3000sq m indoor high-performance centre.
The facility will be fully funded and managed by MWGC at no cost to the council.
In August, NSW planning authorities granted development approval for the centre on the corner of Pittwater and Kentwell roads.
Documents lodged with the DA suggested that the not-for-profit club’s more than 2000 members — and 300,000 annual visitors — would have a gymnastics’ home for the next 30 years.
The centre would also offer “new and exciting opportunities for the wider community to engage in a diverse range of recreational lifestyle programs for ages six months to seniors, disability groups and schools”.
“The facility will be recognised by Gymnastics Australia and Gymnastics NSW as a Centre of Excellence for High Performance gymnastics and trampoline and is designed to cater for all
sports that include aerial movement such as snow sports, diving, skate, surfing, and acrobatics,” according to the documents.
It would also deliver programs including public sports medicine and rehabilitation service.
Independent federal MP for Warringah, Zali Steggall, an Australia medal winning Winter Olympian who advocated for government money for the centre, said it would add significant local economic and social benefits.
“This funding will enable a sustainable, state-of-the-art project to go ahead helping to nurture future sporting success and supporting the talent pathway to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics,” Ms Steggall said.
Mayor Sue Heins said the grant was “great news for local gymnasts and for the northern beaches”.
“When complete, the Centre of Excellence will become one of NSW’s most significant hubs for gymnastics and trampoline sports,” Ms Hein said.
MWGC CEO, David Krantz, said the centre would “reimagine what gymsports means across NSW”.
“This historic moment in the club’s 45-year history will empower a new era of growth and success for the Club … creating vastly improved access to equipment and training flow for all athletes,” he said.
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