Gold Coast Mayor seeks to fasttrack Aquatic Centre upgrade for Pan Pacs

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate is urging the Queensland Government's Office of Commonwealth Games Coordination to bring forward the redevelopment of the Gold Coast Aquatics Centre (Southport Pool).

Mayor Tate wants the redevelopment of the facility, which will host swimming and diving events at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, to be brought forward so that the Gold Coast can host the 2014 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships.

In May, Swimming Australia announced that Queensland will host the 2014 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships featuring the USA, Canada, Japan and the EnergyAustralia Swim Team, with the Brisbane Aquatic Centre at the Sleeman Sports Complex previously seen as the most likely host venue.

To fund the early redevelopment of the aquatic centre, Mayor Tate wants $9 million in funding for a temporary weightlifting facility at Runaway Bay to be diverted to the Southport Pool. He has suggested that a renovated Gold Coast Arts Centre could host the 2018 Commonwealth Games weightlifting events rather than the planned temporary facility.

Explaining his belief that Gold Coast should host the event, Mayor Tate told the Gold Coast Bulletin "swimming is ingrained in our fabric and it makes sense, if we can, to host the Pan Pacific games.

"Southeast Queensland has produced more gold medals per capita than anywhere else in Australia.

"We want to see a games which leaves a legacy and the upgrade of the pool will be an economic driver four years earlier than planned.

"The upgrade is proposed anyway - this is how we would see the money saved.

Mayor Tate believes that the Pan Pacific games will inject $30 million into the Gold Coast region and that the changes at the Art Centre could become part of renovations to the theatre, which is set for a $148 million upgrade.

As part of the Gold Coast City Council's plans for the Gold Coast Aquatics Centre, the Council last week chose not to extend Belgravia Leisure's management contract for the facility.

A GCCC spokesperson explained "Council's decision not to award a contract for management of that pool simply paves the way for redevelopment should the Government give fast tracked redevelopment of the centre the green light."

Held every four years over four days of long course competition, the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships will see more than 300 of the world's best swimmers from the USA, Japan, Canada, Brazil, New Zealand and Australia compete for coveted Pan Pacific gold.

Secured for Queensland by the Queensland Government through Events Queensland, Minister for Tourism, Major Events and Commonwealth Games Jann Stuckey recently explained "it has been 25 years since the Pan Pacific Championships were last staged in Queensland. The 2014 event is a great opportunity to showcase the State to a national and international audience."

Swimming Australia President David Urquhart said the decision to hold the event in Queensland is a fantastic reward for such a strong swimming state, adding "we are extremely grateful for the support of the Queensland Government in securing this event and we know Queensland will be a great place for these top nations to compete and visit.

"Brisbane hosted a successful Pan Pacs at Chandler in 1987, and Sydney used the meet as an Olympic test event in 1999. This will be the third time Australia has hosted the event and where better for our athletes to compete than in their home state for many of them."

Held under the oversight of the Pan Pacific Swimming Association, the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships will be held in August 2014, with a decision on the actual venue for the event still to be confirmed.

For more information go to www.panpacificswimming.com