Govt’s $2.5m boost for local gym’s new home

The state government will chip in $2.5m to help the Hobart Gymnastics Academy’s bid to build a new home. Here’s what’s planned

Minister Kerry Vincent shows off his prowess at the Hobart Gymnastics Academy on Friday, January 10, 2025.

The state government will chip in $2.5m to help the Hobart Gymnastics Academy’s bid to build a new home.

The popular Bridgewater not-for-profit host hundreds of young and not so young athletes and has outgrown its present home.

Minister Kerry Vincent toured the Academy’s facilities on Friday to make the announcement.

“It’s hard to believe that 55 years ago, I was one of those young kids out playing and participating in gymnastics in Devonport,” he said.

He said more than 750 people used the existing gym and improving the facilities would mean a lot and could double the number of potential users.

“You can see by the number of participants here, they’re busting at the seams,” he said.

“They need a bigger facility.”

Minister Kerry Vincent Minister with Peyton Drinkwater, Abi Balmer and Paige Drinkwater at the Hobart Gymnastics Academy on Friday, January 10, 2025.

“The roof is too low here to do the full trampoline — and that prevented me today from going on the trampoline because of the low roof.

“Sporting clubs unite communities. But not only that, they also keep Tasmanians healthy and active.

“A lot of these children come from immediately this area, but also draws off the whole region around to come to here and you can hear by the laughter and the enthusiasm of all the children participating at all ages and levels, just how important is for them.”

Brighton Mayor Leigh Gray said council was joining with the government and the academy on the proposal for a new home for the Academy, which is expected to cost up to $5m.

“This facility is ageing, so to grab a $2m grant from the state government — and thank you to the ministers for providing that to us — to provide a brand new facility in this area for gymnastics and for Hobart Gymnastics Academy is just an absolute great outcome,” he said.

And coaching program co-ordinator Bibiana Devlin-Spiers said new facilities would go a long way to boosting participation and better support young athletes and their families.

“We really love what we offer here at the Academy and the connection that we do have in the community,” she said.

“So being able to offer more of that and to expand our programs and just be able to share with the community, grow our family base, it’s a really exciting thing.

“We’ll be able to see more athletes coming through the programs are growing into talented athletes, and that is really exciting.”

Originally published as Govt’s $2.5m boost for local gym’s new home