Games Progress Delivers Infrastructure Boost

Preparations for the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast have moved up a gear with construction contracts awarded for two of the sporting venues and funds allocated for the city’s new Cultural Precinct.

The Queensland Government has announced that long established builder Hansen Yuncken has won the contracts for the $114 million Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre and the $40 million Coomera Indoor Sports Centre.

Ray White Surfers Paradise CEO Andrew Bell, who was Chairperson of the Gold Coast 2018 Business and Community Committee which secured the Games for the Coast, welcomed the progress on key sporting and cultural infrastructure projects.

“It is thrilling to see these crucial projects begin to move forward as we move ever closer to 2018,” he said.

“These projects represent a significant boost to the local economy in terms of jobs and the knock-on effect for goods and services.

“They will also leave a wonderful legacy for the Gold Coast’s community, tourism, arts and sporting sectors.”

The Carrara project will involve a revamp of Metricon Stadium, the upgrade of a small existing venue and the construction of two new stadiums.

Carrara will stage the opening and closing ceremonies, athletics, badminton and weightlifting events while the Coomera venue will host gymnastics as well as the netball and basketball finals.

Construction is poised to start at Carrara in the coming months while work on the 7500-seat Coomera Indoor Sports Centre will kick off early next year.

Awarding of the sports venue contracts follows Gold Coast City Council’s allocation of $5.6 million towards the detailed design and construction planning of stage one of the city’s landmark $365 million Cultural Precinct at Evandale.

Stage one of the precinct will include a spectacular outdoor amphitheatre, Riverside Gallery and enhancements to Evandale Lake.

Construction of stage one will be completed in time for the Commonwealth Games, when it is expected to be a focal point for Games-related festivities.

The $42 million Gold Coast Aquatic Centre is finished but its capacity will be expanded from 3000 to 10,000 people in time for the 2018 Games’ swimming and diving events.