Lake Macquarie council has pitched its planned $35 million upgrade of the Hunter Sports Centre as an infrastructure project that could be fast-tracked through economic stimulus funding.
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The Hunter and Central Coast Regional Planning Panel approved the council's development application for the yet-to-be-funded project earlier this month.
The plans include a three-storey main building, a trampolining centre of excellence featuring a 450-seat grandstand and an athletics warm-up and testing area that would give the venue tier-one athletic status.
A new access road, bus and car parking spaces, and landscaping upgrades also feature among what is anticipated to be a staged project.
The Newcastle Herald first unveiled plans for the trampolining centre of excellence in mid-2017, revealing the council's negotiations with Gymnastics NSW to expand the existing gymnasium.
Almost a year later, the council announced it was seeking state funds for the $10 million expansion.
It was not successful in obtaining the funds, but lodged a development application last June for the broader upgrade to the Glendale facility worth $35 million.
The regional planning panel said the proposed development would enable "the integration of a number of sporting and community facilities" at the existing centre that would "service the broader region".
"The facility is appropriately located within the Cardiff-Glendale strategic centre, and includes bus and pedestrian access improvements," the panel said in its determination report. "The design of the new buildings and landscaping towards the street and the site's edges are well considered."
The panel approved the project subject to a string a conditions, including the development of dedicated plans to manage vegetation and event traffic and parking.
Lake Macquarie mayor Kay Fraser said the approval was "fantastic news" and allowed the council to pursue funding for the project.
It has sought funds from the state and federal governments that would allow either part of or the entire upgrade to proceed.
Regardless of the success of those applications, the council has made provisions in its 2020-21 budget to complete detailed design of the track and field upgrades, including warm-up facilities which comprise a synthetic running track and throwing cage, permanent drug-testing rooms as required for IAAF standard events and ground keeper facilities.
"We will start detailed design and tender documentation for the remaining elements of the project should our [funding] application be successful," a council spokesperson said.
The trampolining centre of excellence had been pitched as a potential national training base for the Olympic sport's best athletes and to host competitions from local to elite level standards.
The city has a number of athletes who excel in the sport and have competed at the highest level.
"We have a number of national squad members, passionate coaches and a huge interest in the sport," former Australian champion and Eastlake Trampoline Club member Ty Swadling told the Herald when the plans were unveiled. "To marry that up with a facility of equal high performers, would be amazing."
