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Work on a new Olympic sized pool at Brisbane's Sleeman Sports Complex began today with contractors diving into construction.

Queensland Sport Minister Phil Reeves, Federal Sport Minister Senator Mark Arbib and State Member for Chatsworth Steve Kilburn marked the start of construction.

Speaking from the site Minister Reeves explained "this is the single largest investment at Sleeman since its opening prior to the 1982 Commonwealth Games

"The addition of the second four metre deep, 50 metre Olympic-sized pool puts Queensland in the race to bid for major events such as National and World Championships.

"Queensland swimmers make up more than half of the Olympic swimming squad and the additional pool is a boost for our professional athletes and for the community."

The new pool will also be home to the southern hemisphereï¾s first water-based ski jump facility that will be open 12 months of the year.

Senator Arbib explained that "the National Water Jump Training Centre will provide Australia's top athletes with a competitive advantage as it will be the only facility of its kind in the world accessible all year round.

"This state of the art facility will benefit a number of winter sport disciplines, including aerial skiing, moguls and snowboard, all of which require the acrobatic skill development available at this new facility. Each of these disciplines has a current Australian Olympic medallist and we want to continue that great record."

Steve Kilburn added that the addition of a new pool complemented other significant upgrades currently underway at the Sleeman Sports Complex, stating "more than 840,000 people use Sleeman every year and the new pool and water jump facility, along with the new BMX track that is nearing completion, are set to keep the complex at the forefront of sports development in Australia.

"The total upgrade for the new pool and water-based jump facility is $12.5 million."

The Queensland Government is contributing $8.5 million for the construction of the pool, and an additional $2 million towards the construction of the jump facility.

The Federal Government is matching the Queensland Government's $2 million investment in the jump facility, and is in addition to the $923,645 in funding provided for the Olympic Winter Institute program each year for both AIS program support and National Talent Identification and Development. Skiing also received a $1 million allocation of high performance funding.

The development is scheduled to be completed later this year.

For more information go to www.sleemansports.com.au/

Images: The Sleeman Sports Complex's current pool (above) and planned pool (below).

27th September 2010 - EXPANSION REVEALED AT BRISBANE’S SLEEMAN SPORTS COMPLEX

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