Work begins on new home for Murraylands Gymnastics Academy

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Work has begun on a multi-million-dollar gymnastics academy to be built at the showground on Murray Bridge’s east side.

The Murraylands Gymnastics Academy had already been looking for larger premises when a rainstorm flooded the academy in December 2023, ruining much of its equipment.

The disaster spurred a period of soul-searching for the academy and the hundreds of families who use its facilities every week.

Their dream was to build a bespoke facility that would be not only a home for local participants, but a beacon for regional athletes and coaches, capable of hosting competitions and allowing gymnasts to reach higher skill levels.

After an exhaustive search and a stint on Chris Collins Court, the academy realised there was no suitable space in the region where it could relocate on a permanent basis, and turned its efforts towards building something new.

Four major funding wins followed:

• $1.5 million for the new building from the federal government’s Play Our Way program, aimed at assisting sports and recreation clubs to upgrade facilities to benefit women and girls
• Another $500,000 from the state Power of Her program
• $320,000 to replace their rain-affected kit and upgrade to state-of-the-art equipment
• $150,000 to help get a car park built as part of Labor’s commitments to Hammond at this year’s state election

These processes always seem to take a long time, but on Monday, the first sods were finally turned to begin the build.

The new academy will sit on vacant land in between the showground and Murray Bridge’s greyhound racing track.

The building will include:

• an Olympic-sized, fully sprung floor with a warm-up floor next to it
• ceilings at least eight metres high
• competition-grade trampolines, and space for a range of other apparatus
• capacity to accommodate up to 1000 participants

President Peter Angove said the academy was excited to finally start on the journey to its new home.

“(The project) secures the future for gymnastics in the area,” he said.

“Our current size is about the size of a competitive floor, which limits the kinds of activities we can offer.”

There was also a major safety factor involved, as the club would be able to provide proper foam pits alongside apparatus, which would have a big impact on athletes who wanted to progress in their skill development.

“Currently we have to move equipment around each time the kids want to do something different,” he said.

“This new facility will enable equipment to be out at all times, making it much easier for athletes, staff and volunteers to run classes.”

Five shipping containers full of equipment were already sitting in storage in Adelaide, waiting to be moved into the new facility.

The Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing SA’s Adam Trottman said demand for upgraded gymnastics spaces across the state was “huge”.

In a statement, state Recreation, Sport and Racing Minister Rhiannon Pearce said more than 4000 children were on waiting lists to join clubs around South Australia.

“The South Australian government is pleased to support this incredible project, which will have an enormous impact on the Murraylands community, particularly young girls who overwhelmingly participate in gymnastics,” she said.

MGA coach Natahlia Woods, herself a level seven gymnast, said the new space would make all the difference for gymnasts who currently struggled to train in a cramped facility on Thomas Street.

“The addition of the foam pits will allow gymnasts to safely train more complicated skills and build their confidence as they journey through the levels,” she said.

Young gymnast Jessica Angove looked forward to following in the footsteps of her hero, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Georgia Godwin.

“We’ll be able to host competitions, learn more skills and there will be more opportunities to reach higher levels, especially if you’re good enough to reach state or even Australian level skills,” she said.

The new facility is expected to open its doors in late 2027.

Could a basketball facility be the next big thing?

Mayor Wayne Thorley hinted at hopes for that the gymnastics academy might not be the only sporting facility to be built at the showground over the next few years.

The Murray Bridge council was keen to utilise local government space more effectively, he said, especially “chronically under-utilised” areas on the east side.

The council and Murray Bridge Basketball Association previously led a charge to get a new multi-purpose indoor sports facility built at the showground.

The $3.9 million project fell over due to a cost blow-out before construction could even start, despite having federal, state and council backing.

A recent council open space strategy identified a need for a “regional sporting facility” somewhere in the district.