Swim centre precinct to provide economic hit to north
lea.emery@news.com.au
Once completed, the precinct will provide about 20 full time jobs.
Gold Coast North Chamber of Commerce president Gary Mays said the centre would have a large impact on the region’s economy.
“The more infrastructure that you put in the more people will invest,” he said.
“The worst thing that happens to an area’s economy is people living there and commuting out of the area.”
Mr Mays said a sports precinct was especially vital for the northern Gold Coast as it was home to a large number of families.
Deputy mayor and Pimpama councillor Donna Gates said the precinct was necessary to cater for the area’s booming population.
“With a current population of nearly 75,000, the next 20 years will see the population of the northern Gold Coast more than double to 167,000,” she said. “This is one third of the total growth projected for the city.”
Cr Gates said the northern region was in desperate need of better infrastructure.
“More than 50 per cent of the population will live in the northern Gold Coast in the future and we will need to provide a similar level of service to those people so that we can grow the community in a strong way,” she said.
The council is asking residents and businesses to have their say on the precinct proposal. The precinct is set to open in late 2020.