By Duncan Mackay

The Coomera Leisure Centre will host gymnastics and netball finals during the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast ©Gold Coast 2018A new stadium that can hold 7,500 spectators will be built to host gymnastics and the netball finals during the 2018 Commonwealth Games on he Gold Coast, it was announced today as the final list of venues were approved.


The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) gave the green-light to the venues which include the new Coomera Leisure Centre. 

Plans for the 10,000 square-metre complex was revealed by Gold Coast 2018 chairman Nigel Chamier.

"It's where we are going to be holding the gymnastics and netball finals," he said.

"That part of the Gold Coast needs facilities, it doesn't have much in the way of sporting venues so this is just a wonderful addition."

Chamier claimed the Coomera Leisure Centre will be completed nearly two years before the Games.

The Centre is one of three new venues planned by Gold Coast 2018, along with major upgrades to eight others. 

These include the new existing Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre which is set to double in size to accommodate the wrestling in addition to the badminton competitions.

The Carrara Indoor Stadium has also been identified as an additional venue and will be upgraded to replace a temporary venue to host the weightlifting competition during the Games.

"The concept drawings released for the new Coomera Sports and Leisure Centre and the new Queensland State Velodrome demonstrates the great work happening behind the scenes to deliver exciting world-class sport and community infrastructure for South East Queensland," said Queensland's Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney

"The Carrara Indoor Stadium has been identified as an additional venue and will be upgraded to replace a temporary venue to host the weightlifting competition during the Commonwealth Games, providing yet another great infrastructure legacy for the Gold Coast."

Seeney claimed the AUD$320 million (£177 million/$300 million/€222 million) investment in sport and community infrastructure will generate up to 30,000 jobs and inject AUD$2 billion (£550 million/$1.8 billion/€1.4 billion) into the local economy.

The Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre is being given a major upgrade and will host badminton and wrestling during Gold Coast 2018 ©Gold Coast 2018The Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre is being given a major upgrade and will host badminton and wrestling during Gold Coast 2018 ©Gold Coast 2018





Queensland's Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games, Jann Stuckey hailed approval for the venue master plan as a major milestone on the road to Gold Coast 2018. 

"A significant amount of work has gone into the finalisation of the venues plan and the ultimate outcome provides a greater legacy and a brighter future for the Gold Coast," she said.

"The Newman Government, in collaboration with Gold Coast 2018 and our agency partners, is on track to deliver a great Commonwealth Games, on time and on budget."

The Gold Coast 2018 preparations are due to enter a new phase shortly with the completion of Glasgow 2014. 

"We will now focus on delivering a Commonwealth Games that provides facilities and an environment to support excellent competition that will attract the Commonwealth's greatest sportsmen and women," Chamier said.

"I think the Glasgow games are going to be absolutely fantastic and it's a wonderful role model for us to work on.

"It will be the biggest event in Scottish history and that just gives you some indication of what's going to happen here on the Gold Coast, the Commonwealth Games will change the Gold Coast forever."

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