State Government Announces New WAIS High Performance Centre
The road to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and beyond looks a whole lot brighter for Western Australia’s most talented athletes with the news today that the State Government has committed $33.7 million for the construction of the new Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) High Performance Service Centre.
WAIS led the way in the mid 1990s, becoming the first of the State Institutes to have their own facility when the current WAIS building was completed in 1996, but has since fallen behind the rest of Australia with all other major States having more modern facilities for their athletes.
The commitment from the State Government today will see WAIS once again take the lead nationally, with the purpose built centre to be the best State Institute facility in the country when it is completed in late 2014.
WAIS Chairman Grant Boyce said the biggest investment in the Institute’s history was a great boost to the Institute just 83 days out from London Olympics.
“The new WAIS facility is absolutely vital for us to continue to provide the best opportunity for West Australian athletes to wear the green and gold at Olympic and Paralympic level,” he said.
“WAIS has always been a leader in the national sporting landscape and the people of WA can be proud of the fact that today’s announcement will enable us to take back our place at the forefront of Australian sport in the lead up to Rio 2016.”
WAIS Olympic champion pole vaulter Steve Hooker was in attendance at the announcement and was enthusiastic in his praise for the planned facility, in particular the setup for the national pole vault program which WAIS houses.
“This facility will deliver on a lot of the innovations around training and sports science that we’ve been working on over the past four years in the pole vault program,” the Gold Medallist said.
“It’ll ensure the best possible training environment for current and future generations of West Australian athletes.”
Key features of the new WAIS High Performance Service Centre include:-
-A 715 m2 strength and conditioning gym suitable for two sporting squads to train simultaneously
-An 80m, four lane indoor athletics track including a complete pole vault setup, ability for indoor javelin and a long jump pit
-A 625 m2 multi purpose indoor sport science testing area
-A 260 m2 hydrotherapy based recovery centre
-A 280 m2 laboratory for the WA High Performance Sport Research centre, including a 70 m2 heat/humidity/altitude laboratory
-Athlete amenities including study zone, kitchen and recreation area
-Complete universal access for Paralympic athletes to all areas of the facility
A new WAIS facility was first identified as a priority for the Institute following the Athens Olympics and since then detailed work has been undertaken with the State Government, the Department of Sport and Recreation, the Department of Building Management and Works, VenuesWest and the University of Western Australia.
“We’ve been working with the State Government over a number of years to bring our new home to fruition and today’s confirmation marks an important milestone in WAIS’ history,” Grant Boyce offered.
“The work of our Minister Terry Waldron in making today possible can’t be underestimated and to him and his staff we say a sincere thank you on behalf of our athletes.”
Detailed design work will commence within the next month to be followed by construction commencing in the second half of 2013. Athletes are expected to be fully utilising the facility by December 2014.
