Deputy Prime Minister Treasurer Wayne Swan along with surfing royality Layne Beachley and Mark Richards were on-hand to turn the first soil and begin work on the new $2million Surfing High Performance Centre at Casuarina on Saturday morning.
With many members of Surfing Australia and the current crop of young groms – 14-year-old girls on a surf camp – watching on, Treasurer Swan and Federal Member for Richmond Justine Elliot put the shovel in to the earth to signify the start of work.
The Federally-funded facility will be the world’s first centre dedicated to the development of elite surfers and coaches.
It is being built on a $1.2 million freehold title gifted to Surfing Australia by Consolidated Properties, developers of Casuarina Beach. It will be situated just north of the Casuarina Rec Club.
Consolidated Properties Managing Director Don O’Rorke said he was really pleased to be a part of the centre.
He said Surfing Australia had been involved with Casuarina since 2002 and this was the next step.
Mr O’Rorke said the centre would be great for surfers and for the local area, with local builders Hutchinsons set to have 150 people on-site for the construction.
The two-level HPC Centre of Excellence – an institute of sport for surfing – will boast state-of-the-art education facilities, equipment and accommodation and will be at the forefront of sports science and coaching development for surfing.
Treasurer Swan said the area had come a long way from the days when he use to come to the Tweed during university breaks to surf and would no doubt play a big role in the future development of the sport.
“Surfing in Australia is part of our way of life for so many Australians that it’s no surprise we’ve produced so many champion surfers and have built up a really important surf industry which supports a lot of Aussie jobs.
“As a keen surfer myself, I’m especially delighted that the Gillard Government have been able to make this project possible.”
Federal Member for Richmond Justine Elliot told the gathered surfing dignataries, media and locals that she was pleased the facility was being built on the Tweed.
“This training facility will employ local tradespeople and contractors during construction and fit-out over the next 18 months and will continue to benefit the local community in to the future through additional employment opportunities and increased tourism.”
The facility will feature a surf specific gym, auditorium, offices, testing and treatment room, accommodation for 16 and has been designed in consultation with the Australian Institute of Sport.
The centre, expected to be ready for operation by May next year, will also conduct specialised programs designed for women, Indigenous Australians and surfers with a disability.
