Slater’s swell plan
SURFING legend Kelly Slater has signed a deal to help bring a worldclass wave pool to the Gold Coast.
The 11-time world champion, through his company KS Wave Co, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the developers behind the Coast’s $1 billion Maddison Estate to build the world’s first-ever continuous wave pool on the tourist strip.
The partnership between LM Investments and KS Wave Co is one of several wave pool proposals being mooted for southeast Queensland.
John Nielsen, chairman of the Gold Coast surf industry taskforce, said several investors and contractors were lined up ready to deliver a wave pool to the region, with the traditional surfing heartland of the Gold Coast competing with Ipswich for the honour of hosting the country’s first purpose-built surfing wave pool.
Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale and his Gold Coast counterpart Tom Tate are expected to meet proponents and backers of wave pool projects over the coming days.
Overseas, wave pools capable of delivering set after set of perfect waves already operate in Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
Supporters of calls for Ipswich to be granted a wave pool say the city – 100km from the nearest beach – deserves the nod over the Gold Coast because the Glitter Strip already has a plethora of surfing beaches.
Gold Coasters say a wave pool would offer relief from the increasing incidence of surf rage taking place at crowded breaks.
The KS Wave Co surf park would be located on the 118-hectare Maddison Estate, a sprawling new development in the Gold Coast’s booming northern corridor.
The venture would still need council approval and is at least two years from being operational but LM project manager Luke Barnett said Slater was very serious about bringing a wave pool to the Gold Coast.
‘‘Kelly spends a lot of time here on the Gold Coast,’’ he said.
‘‘He owns property here, so he is a ratepayer and he would be very happy to have this on the Gold Coast.
‘‘He also said Maddison Estate’s location on the north-western edge of the Gold Coast would not deter serious surfers from slotting in to perfect waves.
‘‘I’m a surfer and I reckon I would drive 10 hours to get a wave like that.
‘‘We already see people get on planes and travel halfway around the world for good surf, so why wouldn’t they spend half an hour in the car?
‘‘Pro surfers have already thrown their support behind the push for wave pools.’’
Former world champion Mick Fanning is a fan and fellow pro tour rider Bede Durbidge said artificial waves would provide something the real thing couldn’t – reliable swell which would be perfect for training.