Queensland Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, Jeff Seeney, has announced that Gold Coast-based MODE has been awarded a contract as part of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) preparations.

MODE will work on the hockey centre upgrade in Keith Hunt Park, which will include new synthetic pitches to meet international competition standards, as well as upgrades to the existing facilities.

Concept design for the centre will be presented later this year, along with preparation of the construction program in close consultation with existing users to minimise impacts. The centre upgrades are due to be completed by early 2017.

The Gold Coast Hockey Centre now joins the Coomera Sports and Leisure Centre, and Carrara Sports Precinct projects as venues currently in the design phase.

The $52 million Coomera Sports and Leisure Centre will also be designed by a local firm, BDA Architecture, whose submission scored highly in terms of capability relevant experience and comparative cost. The facility will be designed in association with Peddle Thorp, and will be used for gymnastics during the games. It could become a basketball stadium in the future.

Carrara Sports and Leisure precinct

The Carrara Sports Precinct, which will include a new Carrara Sport and Leisure Centre, will be the centrepiece of the development when it is completed in 2016. Designed by BVN Donovan Hill, the plans also show an expanded Metricon Stadium, where the athletics and opening and closing ceremonies will be staged in 2018, along with a smaller existing stadium to be renovated before the Games.

Gold Coast Aquatic Centre

Upgrades on the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre has already started, with Arkhefield, ARM Architecture and Archipelago now working on the Commonwealth Games Village – the largest infrastructure project undertaken on the Gold Coast, as well as one of the area’s most significant urban renewal projects.

The Queensland Government will soon release a plan demonstrating how the delivery of the competition venues is on target to be completed well ahead of GC2018.

“Local businesses have already benefitted from the GC2018 investment and there will be many more opportunities, which will only be made easier by the whole of Games procurement plan due for release in mid-2014,” said Commonwealth Games Minister Jann Stuckey.

The Games will create up to 30,000 jobs, and inject $2 billion into the economy. 

Images courtesy of the Qld government