Gold Coast: $50m world class sporting facilities excites Australian swimming legend

UPDATE: An Olympian is excited about plans for a Gold Coast beachside suburb to become the centrepiece of the city’s rich world class sporting facilities. SUBSCRIBE TO SEE HOW IT WILL LOOK

UPDATE

AN OLYMPIAN is excited how a Gold Coast redevelopment will strengthen the next generation of elite swimmers.

Former captain of the Australian swimming team Giaan Rooney joined Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate in inspecting works at the $18 million redevelopment of the Miami Aquatic Centre on Tuesday.

Ms Rooney said she had fond memories of the Miami club from her squad training days, which began there in the early 1990s and prepared her for the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games, as well as the 2000 Olympics.

Olympian Giaan Rooney checks the progress being made during construction of the Miami Aquatic Centre. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“This has so many incredible memories for me, in fact I don’t think it can be understated that this Miami centre has shaped who I am,” she said.

“I spent six or seven hours a day, six days a week, 50 weeks of the year for eight years of my life here.

“I spent more time here than sometimes I spent with my family, or school, or any other places of being.”

The mother-of-two said now sitting on the other side of the fence and watching her children Zander, 6, and Alexa, 3, learn to swim, she’s looking forward to what the facilities provide for the next generation.

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“Obviously as an athlete, the facilities here are going to be absolutely world class and I can’t wait to see the current crop of champions take advantage of this,” she said.

“The new generation of champions who are going to grow up with this facility are going to be even stronger and better than they have been before,” she said.

“It feels like I’ve come full circle, I’ve seen it from an elite athlete side through to the community side of things.

“I can’t wait to see this centre come to fruition.”

EARLIER

A GOLD Coast beachside suburb is to become the centrepiece of the city’s world class sporting facilities.

The Bulletin can reveal some of the plans for the $50 million overhaul of Pizzey Park at Miami.

Pizzey Park skateboard plan.

New concept designs show an Olympic skatepark precinct will be the first part of the build which will continue until 2035. The project could be completed within a year.

A report to council said: “The popular skate park will undergo a significant expansion in 2020-21 with the inclusion of an Olympic standard street skate park facility. The skatepark expansion will also include works that will ultimately form the first stage of the Central Hub.

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“Once complete the expanded facility will be capable of hosting Olympic training camps, Olympic qualifying events, high performance athlete camps and skateboarding events up to international standard and will be the first facility of its kind in Australia.”

Area councillor Pauline Young told the Bulletin the feedback from the community across the past two years to the masterplan has been extremely positive.

The council was likely to receive some government funding to help complete the master plan.

“We may potentially see some really good outcomes by this time next year,” Cr Young said.

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Meanwhile, the $18 million redevelopment of the Miami Aquatic Centre is on track, with Mayor Tom Tate and swimming champion Giaan Rooney inspecting works at the facility together today.

The shell of the new 50 metre Olympic pool is nearing completion, the new learn to swim pool is complete and the new administration building and car park are under construction.

“Miami is the city’s second most popular pool, attracting over 350,000 patrons each year, but the centre has remained largely unchanged since it was built in the 1970s,” Councillor Tate said.

“This redevelopment will create a more contemporary facility which will continue to serve all ages in the community as well as, we hope, breed future champions like Giaan.”

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Cr Tate said the centre’s reputation for breeding champion swimmers like Giaan, Grant Hackett, Karla Gilbert and Andrew Baildon made it a well-loved community facility.

“We look forward to seeing the finished centre opening early next year,” he said.

The project employed 700 workers. The 50 metre pool required 420 cubic metres of concrete and will hold 2,371,000 litres of water, which will take five days to fill.