The Australian Surf Life Saving Championships have been secured for the Sunshine and Gold Coasts with a decade-long deal set to deliver more than $100 million for the State Government’s Covid-19 Economic Recovery Plan.
Tourism and Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said Tourism and Events Queensland had secured the agreement in partnership with Major Events Gold Coast (MEGC) and Sunshine Coast Council.
“This is a significant deal for Queensland’s economic recovery and locks in eight Australian Surf Life Saving Championship events between 2023 and 2032,” he said.
“Over the years, the championships – affectionately known simply as The Aussies – have become an iconic Queensland event, bringing more than 7000 competitors annually from more than 315 Australian clubs.
This year, the Australian Championships were held on the Sunshine Coast, generating more than 78,000 visitor room nights, and $16 million for local businesses.
“The experience on the Sunshine Coast this year demonstrates the value of this event to our visitor economy, particularly now the championships are locked in for Queensland over the next decade,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
“The agreement with the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships is a clear vote of confidence in Queensland’s ability to host major events and our world-class visitor destinations on the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.
Caloundra MP Jason Hunt said Australian Surf Life Saving Championships events from 2023 to 2032 would be shared between the Sunshine and Gold Coasts.
“We saw how important this year’s Aussies were for the Sunshine Coast’s Economic Recovery Plan with $16 million added to our visitor economy,” Mr Hunt said.
“I would like to think the Sunshine Coast will be a strong contender for the 2024 championships to mark the Alexandra Headland surf club’s centenary celebrations.”
Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson said he was delighted to have certainty that the national surf lifesaving championships would be returning to Sunshine Coast beaches again after outstanding events in 2016 and 2021.
“Surf lifesaving is part of the DNA of the Sunshine Coast and we know our region, our clubs and our community welcome the prospect of again hosting the national titles,” he said.
Surf Life Saving Australia president John Baker said to be able to lock in eight editions of The Aussies, their membership would be looking forward to returning to the sunny beaches of the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast in Queensland again.
