A taskforce has been established to select a location for the Malinauskas Government's $100 million election commitment for a new multi-use facility to provide a permanent home to gymnastics.
The taskforce, made up of senior government officials from sport, planning and other agencies, will identify a preferred site for the new State Gymnastics Centre.
The successful site will need to meet Gymnastics SA's requirements including for staging community, national and international events, and one that provides opportunities for shared use including for other indoor sports.
The taskforce will work with government departments, Gymnastics SA and other stakeholders to determine the most viable site for the new centre.
The process is expected to be completed later this year.
Participation rates for gymnastics are going through the roof and the existing current State Gymnastics Centre in Marion is no longer fit for purpose.
Across South Australia, there are 16,000 registered gymnasts participating in the sport and more than 30,000 casual participants take part in programs each year.
Gymnastics is now the second largest foundation skills sport in South Australia and the second largest sport for girls under the age of 14.
About 70 per cent of clubs have waiting lists in the hundreds which means too many children are missing out due to lack of space and appropriate infrastructure.
The new centre will bring together all gymnastics disciplines under one roof including trampoline, tumbling, rhythmic, aerobic, and women's and men's artistic.
It is envisaged the facility will have a floor space of approximately 4,000 square metres and include specialised safety matting system, closed-pit landing systems with soft-top landing covers, ceiling-mounted harness systems to support safe high-performance training and equipment capable of hosting community, and elite competitions.
As put by Rhiannon Pearce
The Malinauskas Government is committed to getting more children active and this significant investment will help to achieve this by providing a state-of-the-art new facility where young South Australians can train, compete and socialise.
Gymnastics helps children develop coordination, strength, balance and confidence, skills that underpin participation in almost every other sport.
Despite the popularity of gymnastics in South Australia, it is being held back by ageing infrastructure and a lack of purpose-built facilities and this fantastic project will address this.
As put by Jo Marshall, Chair Gymnastics SA
Gymnastics provides a powerful introduction to sport, helping children develop fundamental movement skills early and encouraging them to stay active and engaged from a young age.
We welcome the commitment of the Malinauskas Government in helping us ensure that the location of this site is carefully chosen to ensure the best possible access for our entire community across the city and state.
Gymnastics is an inclusive sport that gives children and young people the chance to discover what their bodies and minds are capable of. The benefits to the future of our young people are far broader than movement alone.
The facility will become a central hub for gymnastics in our state, providing a space where our seven gym sports can train, learn and develop. It will also enable us to host more than 40 events each year and position South Australia to attract national and international competitions.
