Glendale is set to become the home of elite trampolining in Australia after the NSW Government approved a $12.5 million grant to build a new Trampoline Centre of Excellence.
The state-of-the-art facility is expected to open in early 2025, complementing the $25.7 million expansion of the Hunter Sports Centre, co-funded by Lake Macquarie City Council and the 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 the wider Hunter 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.”
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 the centre’s features.
Council’s contribution will provide for a major redevelopment of the site, including a three-storey sports and community centre and a 24-hour gym.
The NSW Government will contribute $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 that NSW would become the nation’s centre of excellence for talent development and identification through the program.
“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,” Ayres said.
“Each new and upgraded centre raises the bar for high-performance training facilities, and will assist in developing our next generation of sporting stars.”
The new centre, which has the backing of Gymnastics NSW, is likely to play a pivotal role for local and international teams in preparation for the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane.
The centre will also cater to other aerial sports training and career pathways.
It will also generate more than $2.5 million a year in visitor revenue from athletes, support staff, families and spectators travelling from outside the Hunter.
Hunter Sports Centre General Manager, Colin Southworth, said the redevelopment was “a game-changer” for the precinct.
“That’s all the way from grassroots participation to high performance,” he said.
Lake Macquarie has a rich history in the sport of trampolining, including former World Champion, Brett Austine, Tokyo 2021 Olympian, Jessica Pickering, and brothers, Ty and Shaun Swadling.
“We will focus on female development in sport and recreation and increase the number of people participating in regular programmed activities,” Southworth said.
He added 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.
A detailed design of the new centre is underway.
A separate warm-up and athlete testing facility will also be built in the project’s second stage.
Maia O’Connor