- intouch Magazine
Trampoline Centre of Excellence springs to life
Lake Macquarie is set to become the home of elite trampolining in Australia, with the NSW Government approving a $12.5 million grant to help build a new Trampoline Centre of Excellence at Glendale.
The state-of-the-art facility will complement the $25.7 million expansion of the Hunter Sports Centre, co-funded by Council and Federal Government, making it one of the country’s premier multi-sport training venues.
Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said the announcement was a windfall for the city, and for the region.
“The new Trampoline Centre of Excellence will be up there with the world’s best venues for the sport,” she said.
“It will mean we can not only attract and train Australia’s best up-and-coming athletes right here in Lake Mac, but we can host national and international trampolining competitions.”
The centre is expected to generate more than $2.5 million a year in visitor revenue, much of it from athletes, support staff, families and spectators travelling from outside the region.
A 1500sqm arena with nine trampolines, two tumbling strips, two double mini-trampolines, a foam pit, warm up areas and seating for 450 spectators are among its features.
It will also cater for training and career pathways in other aerial sports, including skateboarding and skiing.
Lake Macquarie has a rich history in the sport of trampolining, producing world-class competitors including former World Champion Brett Austine, Tokyo 2021 Olympian Jessica Pickering and brothers Ty and Shaun Swadling.
The NSW Government will contribute the $12.5 million from its Centre of Excellence Fund, which aims to improve talent pathways and community engagement across all sporting codes.
Minister for Tourism and Sport Stuart Ayres said Round One of funding had been approved for six projects state-wide.
“NSW is already the nation's major sporting events capital and through this program, we will make this State the nation’s centre of excellence for talent development and identification,” he said.
“The six projects that have been successful in securing funding will be focal points for the development of the next generation of stars across Olympic, Paralympic and professional sports.”
“Each new and upgraded centre raises the bar for high-performance training facilities, and will assist in developing our next generation of sporting stars.”
Council’s contribution will provide for a major redevelopment of the site, including a three-storey sport and community centre and a 24-hour gym.
A separate warm-up and athlete testing facility will also be built in the project’s second stage.
Hunter Sports Centre General Manager Colin Southworth said the redevelopment was “a game-changer” for the venue.
“That’s all the way from grassroots participation to high performance,” he said.
“We will focus on female development in sport and recreation and increase the number of people taking part in regular programmed activities.”
Mr Southworth said the Trampoline Centre of Excellence would reap major economic benefits to Lake Macquarie.
“Coupled with the current works, this announcement plays a critical component in maximising the benefits of Council’s master plan for the sport and community precinct,” he said.
The new Centre of Excellence, which has the backing of Gymnastics NSW, is likely to play a pivotal role for local and international teams in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane.
Trampolining became an Olympic sport at the Sydney 2000 Games, and sees athletes catapulting themselves up to 10m from the trampoline’s surface – the height of a three-storey building.
Detailed design of the new centre is already underway, and the venue is expected to open in early 2025.
Go to lakemac.com.au for more information about the Hunter Sports Centre expansion.
