THE Gold Coast Suns will move into a new $20 million headquarters within a $106m redevelopment of the Carrara precinct that will be transformed after the Commonwealth Games into a high-performance centre for hire.
The vision of the Government and the Games planning committee is for Carrara to become an elite training destination that targets international sporting organisations such as English Premier League clubs and international rugby sides for pre-season training camps and potentially pump millions annually into the Queensland economy.
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The plans for the redevelopment of Carrara, released by Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney include two multi-sport indoor stadiums, an upgrade of Metricon Stadium and another outdoor sporting field.
There will also be an aquatic centre.
The finals plans will be submitted to the Commonwealth Games planning committee next month. Work will begin later this year and is expected to be completed in 2016.
The Suns must contribute $20m to their training and administration centre and vacate it during the Games so the facility can be used for badminton and fencing tournaments as well as the control hub for Games officials.
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Gold Coast Suns coach Guy McKenna says his side won under 'ugly' circumstances against the Melbourne Demons.
Suns chairman John Witheriff said the philosophy behind the planning for the precinct was that it became a financial asset for the city after the Games as a key elite sporting destination.
He said the Suns, as major tenants, would have a role to play in managing the facility.
“If you look at the Indian situation after their Commonwealth Games, a lot of those assets are simply being bulldozed and knocked down,” he said.
“That's not going to happen in Queensland, the Gold Coast Suns are going to have to wear the costs and expense of ensuring that a number of those legacy assets are maintained for benefit of community.
“It just won't be a piece of Gold Coast Suns infrastructure, it will be one where the Suns interact with a whole lot of other sporting teams and our skills are shared and our medical information shared and out athletic knowledge is shared.”
Last month senior Suns officials and senior architects from BVN Donovan Hill toured the facilities of AFL clubs Essendon, the Western Bulldogs, North Melbourne, Carlton and GWS.
Senior Suns official Andrew Travis, who oversaw the development of Metricon Stadium, is closely involved in the planning process.
Travis worked on the AAMI Park precinct in Melbourne and has been seconded to the planning committee for the new AFL venue in Perth.
Witheriff said his presence ensured the Suns' designs requirements would be met.
“What is really positive is we're deeply included in the process, our staff are working with the planning staff and architects and we have been intimately designed with the design process,” he said.
nice to see the AFL investing in infrastructure again. =D>
now when will the NRL spend some of their 50million dollar profit & what on?
cardboard cut outs, so they can make their fudged crowds look bigger?
more leagues clubs and poke licences
![:[]](./images/smilies/th_iwstupid.gif "With Stupid"){kind=small}
liar extraordinaire 
