SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND THE HEARTLAND OF SURF LIFESAVING AND THE AUSSIES

SURF SPORTS, September 15: The Sunshine Coast will host the 2016 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships (The Aussies) for the first time since Grant Kenny won the coveted Ironman double at Maroochydore in 1980.
 
And in other news announced by Queensland Premier Anna Bligh today, the Gold Coast will remain “The Aussies” home for 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2017, with 2014 yet to be decided.As part of an agreement between Events Queensland and SLSA today’s announcement confirmed there have been two extra Aussies secured for Queensland – with the 2013 and 2016 events added to existing agreements for 2012, 2015 and 2017.

The premier was at Mooloolaba Surf Club to make the announcement for the 2016 event together with the continuance of the Noosa and Mooloolaba triathlons for the area for a further three years.

Ms Bligh was joined by Surf Life Saving Australia CEO Brett Williamson and surrounded by some of Australia’s finest surf lifesavers including Mooloolaba foursome, Matt Poole, Ali Day, Allira Richardson and rising star Teisha Jenkins and a squad of budding young triathletes.
 
Ms Bligh said: "Today we have confirmation that the Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships (The Aussies), the largest sporting event of its type in the world, are coming to the Sunshine Coast for the first time since 1980.
 
"Hosting the Aussies in 2016 is a huge coup for the region that will coincide perfectly with the 100 year anniversary of Surf Life Saving on the Sunshine Coast.
 
"The Sunshine Coast really deserves this opportunity with a great record and reputation for hosting major events.
 
"We can also announce a further three-year agreement to continue the nation's two biggest triathlons·- Noosa and Mooloolaba.”
 
Ms Bligh said The Aussies was an iconic event and was also a coup for the Gold Coast and Queensland “that cements our status at the nation's lifesaving heartland.”
 
Ms Bligh said the Sunshine Coast announcement would see an economic wave of more than $94 million and she thanked Sunshine Coast City Council, Surf Life Saving Australia and USM events for their role in delivering successful events.
 
The Noosa Triathlon Multi Sport Festival, held in October, celebrates its 30-year anniversary next year and Mooloolaba Triathlon Festival, celebrates its 20-year anniversary.
 
Surf boss Brett Williamson, said: "Surf Life Saving Australia is delighted to take the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships to the Sunshine Coast - a region where surf life saving is entrenched into the community spirit.
"Having the Sunshine Coast host the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships in 2016 is made even more special with the area celebrating 100 years of involvement in surf life saving.

"And in terms of infrastructure, facilities and beaches required to host an event of this size, the Gold Coast (remains) the premier location in Australia and we're delighted to see the Aussies return (there) in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2017.

"We would like to particularly thank the Queensland Premier, the Gold Coast City Council and Events Queensland for their cooperation and continued support of the Aussies.

"This is a clear indication of their appreciation of the economic and social value of the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships to the local community and Queensland."

Member for Broadwater Peta-Kaye Croft said on the Gold Coast: “It's great news for the local tourism industry and economy - each Aussies generates an estimated $12 million economic boost, attracts around 7,000 competitors and many more spectators and delivers about 64,000 visitor nights."

Ms Croft said the outcome was a vote of confidence in the region's ability to host major sporting events which came as the Gold Coast continued the bid effort for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.