The $18 million redevelopment of the Miami Aquatic Centre is on track, with City of Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate and swimming champion Giaan Rooney yesterday inspecting works at the facility.
The pair were able to see how the shell of the new 50 metre Olympic pool is nearing completion, that the new learn to swim pool is complete, and the new administration building and car park are under construction.
Mayor Tate advised “Miami is the city’s second most popular pool, attracting over 350,000 patrons each year, but the centre has remained largely unchanged since it was built in the 1970s.
“This redevelopment will create a more contemporary facility which will continue to serve all ages in the community as well as, we hope, breed future champions like Giaan.”
Rooney said she had fond memories of Miami from her squad training days, which began there in the early 1990s and prepared her for the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games, as well as the 2000 Olympics.
An architect's rendering of how the facility will look when complete
She explained “it is safe to say that training at Miami has changed the course of my life in more ways than one.
“I will never forget the hard work that was done there, and the lessons I learnt about myself during those gruelling training sessions or the feeling of dread in the early days before the new 50 metre pool was built when I would show up at 5am and there was no steam coming off the pool as the heaters had frozen over - that taught me I had a strength I never knew I had!
“I can’t wait to see the finished centre, as it will provide state of the art training facilities for the next generation of swimming champions Miami has always produced, as well as a much-needed community hub that will benefit locals from all walks of life.”
Noting that the Centre’s reputation for breeding champion swimmers like Rooney, Grant Hackett, Karla Gilbert and Andrew Baildon made it a well-loved community facility, Mayor Tate added “we look forward to seeing the finished centre opening early next year.”
Article Courtesy of Australasian Leisure Management
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