High-performance sports hub set for Lake Kawana

The Sunshine Coast is one step closer to facilitating a world-class high-performance sporting hub following council’s unanimous decision to approve the master plan for the project on the shores of Lake Kawana.

The design includes a licensed sporting clubhouse with dining and conference rooms, short-term accommodation for visiting sporting organisations, athletes and teams, and an integrated indoor sports training facility, sports medicine facilities and administration space.

Division 3 Councillor Peter Cox said the Sunshine Coast high performance sports and community hub would deliver massive economic and social benefits to the region.

“This facility will cater for the needs of both the Sunshine Coast community and athletes across all sporting codes and I am pleased to welcome this sporting centre to Division 3,” Cr Cox said.

“The approved development application meets the intended use for the site, which is a sports house within the Kawana sports precinct.

“Given the scale and nature of the project, it will occur in five stages.

“The first stage includes sports administration facilities, a restaurant and function centre to be built and used by local sporting clubs, providing a facility for current clubs to use for socialising.

“It is also anticipated parts of the facility will be leased to specialised service providers and sports and community organisations.

“It’s going to provide enormous regional benefits as it’s delivered in stages across the coming years.”

Tourism, Sport and Major Events Portfolio Councillor Jason O’Pray said a complex dedicated to providing short-term budget accommodation for visiting athletes was a must for the Sunshine Coast.

“Short-term budget accommodation is what we need to grow our sports tourism sectorbecause many sporting teams have difficulties meeting the cost of accommodation.This new facility has the potential to provide a key solution,” Cr O’Pray said.

“The hub will be the latest asset to the Kawana sports precinct and will undoubtedly have a significant impact when attracting interstate and international athletes to our region.

“Tourism, sport and leisure is one of the seven high-value industries identified as offering the greatest potential to succeed as our regional economy grows.

“The sporting hub will provide an inclusive facility for locals and athletes of all ages to develop and progress while directly and indirectly creating jobs in the sport, recreation, sports medicine, sports education and sports science sectors.”