The contract to upgrade Sunshine Coast Stadium in preparation for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympics will go to market today.
The stadium was one of three Sunshine Coast venues given go-dates for upgrades today alongside the Chandler Sports precinct.
It is proposed the Sunshine Coast Stadium, in Kawana, will host football preliminaries and quarter-final matches during the Games and will receive a $148 million upgrade.
A new $142 million Sunshine Coast Indoor Sports Centre will also be built in the Kawana Precinct with the contract expected to go to market in August.
The Sunshine Coast Mountain Bike Centre, near Nambour, will receive a $14 million upgrade, with a contract to go to market next year, which is the same timeframe for the contract to be sent out for a $257 million upgrade of the Chandler Sports precinct.
Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said the funding announcements followed years of research and planning and were a direct result of the region’s role as Co-Host City of the Games.
“The validation process the projects went through, including independent panel reviews, was extensive and demonstrated the importance of these venues for the Sunshine Coast,” Mayor Natoil said.
“They will deliver lasting economic and social benefits before, during and long after hosting the Games.
“These venues are being built for our community. They will provide a place to train, to play, to watch our favourite teams and to cheer on our kids from the sidelines.
“Importantly, these venues will be leading-edge in accessibility to accommodate the many para-sports, athletes and spectators in our region.”
The Sunshine Coast Stadium upgrade aims to allow the venue to attract world-class sport, recreational and entertainment events and will have seating capacity for 20,000, with 10,000 of those permanent.
The State Government said the new Sunshine Coast Indoor Sports Centre would be a sustainable, modern facility with 11 courts and multifunctional areas suitable for a range of sports and community uses before and after the Games. It is earmarked to host Games competition, such as basketball preliminaries, with around 6000 spectator seats.
The Sunshine Coast Mountain Bike Centre upgrade promises to deliver a new mountain bike cycling hub with circuit, beginner level trails and a skills park suitable for multisport events, as well as bike hire facilities and space for a café. It will host 8000 standing spectators and temporary seating for 2000.
An upgraded Chandler Sports Precinct will feature a new Indoor Sports Centre earmarked to hold gymnastics and Paralympic wheelchair basketball during the Games with 10,000 spectator seats.
The site’s Brisbane Aquatic Centre, where diving and water polo is planned to be held, and and the Anna Meares Velodrome and BMX SuperCross track, which will house cycling and BMX racing will also benefit from the upgrade.
