Fiona Nash
Minister for Regional Development
Minister for Local Government and Territories
Minister for Regional Communications
Deputy Leader of the Nationals
Senator John Williams
Nationals Senator for NSW
Joint Media Release
Construction begins on first Building Better Regions Fund Project
Sod turned on $5.6 million Hurley Surfing Australia High Performance Centre Expansion
Elite training facility will develop Australia’s most talented surfers thanks to $2.5 million from the Building Better Regions Fund
Construction of a world-class elite surfing training facility began today with the first sod turned on the $5.6 million Hurley Surfing Australia High Performance Centre Expansion.
Minister for Regional Development Fiona Nash said the project is the first to begin construction under the Government’s new $500 million Building Better Regions Fund.
“This elite training facility will help develop Australia’s most talented surfers in the lead up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and beyond,” Minister Nash said.
“I aim to build the kinds of communities our children and grandchildren want to either stay in or come back to, and providing first class sporting facilities does just that.”Senator for New South Wales John Williams, who joined some of Australia’s surfing legends at the sod turn today, said the project demonstrates the Coalition Government’s ongoing commitment to deliver the infrastructure that communities need.
“The new Centre will increase tourism to the Tweed Coast, with recreational surfers and domestic and international sporting teams visiting the region to surf some of Australia’s most stunning beaches,” Senator Williams said.
“The project is expected to create up to 120 jobs during construction, and another 55 ongoing jobs, and goes hand-in-hand with Surfing Australia’s planned move to relocate their national headquarters from Coolangatta to Casuarina.”
New South Wales Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres said the multi-stage project set to create a world-class sports facility and vital community resource.
“The Centre is not only for surfers, it has been utilised as a training facility for Cricket Australia, Surf Life Saving NSW, Hockey Victoria, Country Rugby League, Australian Rugby Union, and Rugby Canada and Japan,” Mr Ayres said.
“The Hurley Surfing Australia High Performance Centre (HPC) is the world’s first facility dedicated to the development of all surfers, putting our high performance athletes in the best possible position to continue dominating the sport.”
Surfing Australia Chief Executive Officer Andrew Stark said he was truly excited about the expansion of the High Performance Centre for the Tweed community.
“This expansion is going to have a major positive impact on the local community, our surfing junior pathway programs, and our Olympic preparation,” Mr Stark said.
“We are extremely appreciative of the support from the Federal and State Government towards the project, and I am looking forward to its completion in July 2018”
This project is jointly funded by the Coalition Government ($2,536,000), the New South Wales Government ($3,000,000) and Surfing Australia Limited ($100,000).
The two-storey facility features a state-of-the-art facilities including an indoor skate ramp, in-ground trampoline and gymnastics area, gymnasium, 80 seat auditorium, education and conference rooms, treatment room and accommodation for 22 people.