Building the Coomera Indoor Sports Centre for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) is expected to provide a significant boost for jobs in Queensland.
The $40 million arena will draw on local talent during the design and construction phase, which could spell good news for people seeking Gold Coast apprenticeships. Fifteen Gold Coast businesses are already working on the project, with the centre scheduled to host the netball finals and the gymnastics competition for the Games.
Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones inspected the site on Monday (July 20), claiming the world-class venue would create 130 full-time jobs and support more than 1,000 workers while it’s being built.
“From earthworks and steel fabrication to waste removal and site security, Gold Coast businesses are benefiting from the construction of this world-class venue,” she explained.
“This is a major legacy project for the Gold Coast in terms of jobs, business and infrastructure for the local community, and Queenslanders will be able to enjoy its facilities before the Games and for many years after.”
According to Ms Jones, the venue will form an important part of South East Queensland’s sporting facilities. The centre brings the community much-needed infrastructure for various activities, including volleyball, basketball, gymnastics and netball.
Boosting jobs in Queensland
The arena’s managing contractor is Hansen Yuncken – and the organisation is already taking advantage of a highly qualified talent pool on the Gold Coast.
This includes Alltype Welding, which will be spending approximately 20,000 man-hours pre-fabricating steel. The 600-tonne steel structure needed to build the venue, which will take 10 weeks to construct, requires workmen to install 44 14-metre steel columns.
Gold Coast Acting Mayor Councillor Donna Gates claimed the sports arena will provide a significant boost for the northern Gold Coast region.
“As the representative for Coomera, I fought hard for this great legacy for our city and for the future generations living in the booming northern growth corridor,” she commented. “It’s very exciting to now see work progressing that will deliver the project in advance of GC2018.”
Assistant Minister for Defence and Federal Member for Fadden Stuart Robert said the Australian government had invested $154 million in Commonwealth Games infrastructure in partnership with the Queensland government. He said the funding would not only provide a legacy for South East Queensland, but also for the whole nation.
Posted by Leanne Macnamara, Public Affairs Coordinator
