The Queensland Government announced that venues for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) will be delivered well ahead of schedule.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney said the Queensland Government and the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) were on target to deliver three new sporting venues and major upgrades to eight others.

According to Mr Seeney, the $320 million investment in sport and community infrastructure will generate up to 30,000 jobs and inject $2 billion into the economy.

The Commonwealth Games Federation has also approved the final list of sports and venues for the Games, with some planned temporary locations to now become permanent venues, creating an even stronger legacy for Queenslanders.

Commonwealth Games Minister Jann Stuckey said the positive changes to planned venues were the result of detailed consultation and planning undertaken by the Queensland Government, City of Gold Coast, GOLDOC and other key partners. Design enhancements to the new Coomera Sports and Leisure Centre will increase the size of the venue from 6,000m² to 10,000m².

The new existing Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre has also benefited, with the venue now in the early design stage. It 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 Commonwealth Games, providing yet another great sporting infrastructure legacy for the Gold Coast.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the City had worked in partnership with the government and GOLDOC to ensure the best possible Commonwealth Games venue legacy outcomes. Changes to the Carrara Sports Precinct will strengthen its capacity as an internationally-significant sports precinct and support elite and high performance sporting events and training camps.

Congratulating the local Gold Coast firm BDA Architecture who is designing the new Coomera Sports and Leisure Centre, with Cox Rayner Architects to design the new Queensland State Velodrome, Ms Stuckey said that progress and delivery of all venues and the Commonwealth Games Village will continue to be overseen by the Commonwealth Games Infrastructure Authority.