Hundreds more jobs flow from Games venue construction

More than 500 jobs will be created from the construction and upgrade of two showcase sporting facilities for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney said construction company Hansen Yuncken has been appointed contractor for the new $40 million Coomera Sports and Leisure Centre project and the $114 million Carrara Sports Precinct project.

“Today’s announcement is another important step in our government’s on-time and on-budget delivery of venues for the 2018 Games,” Mr Seeney said.

“We are investing $320 million in infrastructure over the next four years to create venues that will not only host Games events, but create first-class sporting and leisure facilities for the Gold Coast and Queensland for years to come.

“This government promised to deliver better infrastructure for Queensland, create more jobs and boost tourism. With these projects, we are doing all three.”

Hansen Yuncken has a strong presence in Queensland and has demonstrated a solid commitment to supporting local businesses in the projects it delivers.

Local industry specialists such as the Industry Capability Network ensured 90 per cent of firms involved in the construction of the $41 million Gold Coast Aquatic Centre were based in south east Queensland.

Commonwealth Games Minister Jann Stuckey said the Cararra precinct was a significant legacy project and will host the opening and closing ceremonies for the Games.

“The Carrara Precinct projects include construction of the $100 million new Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre project, $8 million for major upgrades to Carrara Indoor Stadium and $6 million for upgrades to Carrara Stadium,” she said.

“The redeveloped precinct will provide a mix of new elite and community facilities for all of south east Queensland and encourage greater grassroots participation in sport on the Gold Coast.

“The new Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre, which comprises of two multi-use indoor sports halls and a shared public plaza, will be the first project within the Carrara Precinct.”

The Coomera Sports and Leisure Centre will be a new indoor facility that will host the gymnastics competition and netball finals during the Commonwealth Games.

“This complex is one of the success stories from the early planning stages of the Games, having doubled in size from the original 2011 plans and becoming a permanent rather than a temporary facility.

“In the longer term it will be a fantastic indoor facility suited to a range of sports including netball, basketball, gymnastics and futsol.”

Hansen Yuncken state manager Greg Baumann said he was looking forward to creating strong alliances with local businesses in designing and constructing both projects.

“Our company is committed to supporting local industries and creating opportunities in the tendering for goods and services, as well as training opportunities for subcontractors,” Mr Baumann said.

“We have a proven track record of supporting local industry here in Queensland.

“A good example is our recent work in Cairns, where 90 per cent of subcontract agreements let for our projects have been within the region.

“We will source suppliers in a manner that is consistent with the Queensland Government’s Charter for Local Content, using local content specialists such as the Industry Capability Network Queensland.”

Early site works for the Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre are scheduled to begin in late 2014, and construction on the Coomera Sports and Leisure Centre is scheduled to commence in early 2015.

[ENDS] 6 August 2014

Media Contact: Jane Paterson 0417 281 754 or Elizabeth Spry 0418 928 744