Gold Coast Aquatic Centre: First look at plans to put roof on Southport complex

Plans to dramatically upgrade the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre have been unveiled as the city makes a stunning play to host one of the world’s biggest events and even the Olympic Games.

The Gold Coast is to make a stunning play to host the world swimming championships - aiming for it be a platform to securing the Southport Aquatic Centre for the 2032 Olympics.

Gold Coast City Council will investigate plans for both permanent and temporary roofing needed at the City’s 2018 Commonwealth Games pool for the Gold Coast to secure the 2028 world swimming championships.

Renders provided to the Bulletin show the City has begun exploring the option.

Artist impression of a proposed upgrade of the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre in Southport.

A City source said City CEO Tim Baker would be tasked with exploring the best financial options.

“We will make the proper decision. We don’t want a concrete box style rolled over it,” the source said.

The financials would be designed to reduce ratepayer costs with the City funding an estimated $50 million and the rest of the estimated $150 million total cost provided by the State and Commonwealth.

This compares to the predicted $2.1 billion required to build the Brisbane Live Venue to host swimming providing for between 17,000 and 18,000 fans at the 2032 Olympic Games.

Brisbane 2032 venues will not be locked down until at least next year.

The key to the deal is Mayor Tom Tate visiting the Paris Olympics where he will talk with world swimming chiefs, sources say.

A general view of the Aquatic Centre with the temporary seating installed for the Commonwealth Games. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

“If the Gold Coast was able to get the World Championships it’s the same as (hosting the swimming) at the Olympic Games. To get the World Championships demonstrates we can tick that box,” the source said

Mr Tate confirmed he had spoken to world Olympic federation chiefs during an earlier visit to Southport where they talked about crowd capacity and roofing along with signage.

The Mayor was told “we can quite easily have the world championship in 2028”.

“And then we have made a date to catch up at the Olympics in Paris,” he said. Mr Tate is scheduled to meet with the chiefs of three world sporting bodies.

He said he realised, as an engineer, that the foundation of the building had the capacity to withstand an upgrade for world championship standard.

“We did it already with those temporary stands for the Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific (Games),” Mr Tate said.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate (pictured right) with Brisbane Organising Committee for the 2032 Olympic Games chief Andrew Liveris at the Carrara Indoor Sports Centre.

“The only missing element is the roof, and would say that I would go towards the fabric type roof like the Marina Mirage there, and have that covering if it’s raining, it doesn’t come in. It won’t be fully enclosed - the wind and fresh air can go through. “

The Mayor said he had spoken to world champion swimmers who preferred that option because they could “escape the humidity”.

“We will build it, spend a bit of extra money so it becomes a legacy. I’ll put that forward for approval - to host the world championship for swimming,” he said.

“And if we can do that, I say to everyone, judge us by our results. If it’s delivered like the Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacifics - then really? You want to do a temporary pool in Brisbane, spend half a billion dollars (for the Olympics).”

The Gold Coast Aquatic Centre's Commonwealth Games stadium in the process of being dismantled. Picture Mike Batterham

In warning to politicians about the ballot box and impact of wasted spending, he added: “I think the people of Queensland will make their decision.”

He agreed the costing could be about $150 million and the City would seek a three-way split.

“We’re happy to do joint funding, a third, a third, a third. It’ll come well under budget.

If 50-50, the City would underwrite the budget and it would be locked in, as a world championship standard,” Mr Tate said.

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Originally published as Gold Coast Aquatic Centre: First look at plans to put roof on Southport complex