On this historic day in Central Coast Mariners history, the Hon. Malcolm Turnbull MP, Prime Minister of Australia along with Mrs. Karen McNamara MP, Federal Member for Dobell in conjunction with the Mariners opened the Centre of Excellence.
Located on the corner of Wyong Road and Bryant Drive at Tuggerah, the Centre of Excellence was today opened by Australia’s Prime Minister alongside Mrs. Karen McNamara MP, Mariners Executive Vice Chairman Peter Storrie and CEO Shaun Mielekamp.
The six-storey structure includes two levels of medical suites; four stories of leased office space (including CCM HQ); 140 additional car spaces and a café.
An exciting element to the new office structure is ‘Mariners Medical’ which comprises the entire bottom floor of the six-storey office structure. The Mariners Medical centre that includes; GP services; skin cancer clinic; physiotherapy; pathology and other specialists services is welcoming new patients who can book 24 hours a day via their website.
With the official opening complete, this paves the way to commence construction of stages three, four and five that include (but are not limited to):
- Public gym and function rooms
- Indoor sports facility with a spectators viewing deck
- 80-room hotel and 80 serviced apartments
- Outdoor entertainment precinct and Mariners Pub
- Two additional training pitches accompanied by a 1200 seat stadium
- Tennis courts
- Petrol station
- Childcare facilities
Of course the Central Coast Mariners football and back office departments will benefit from state of the art facilities but the ultimate aim is to develop a precinct that will host international and domestic sporting teams.
Storrie paid credit to Mike Charlesworth and elaborated on how the growth of the Centre of Excellence will positively contribute to the growth of the football club.
“Although he is not here, I know that Mike Charlesworth is very proud to see his vision come to life. It was always his ambition to ensure that this development provided the financial support for the long-term growth of the football club,” Storrie said.
Mielekamp proudly announced that the Yellow & Navy are on track to post a profit at the completion of the Hyundai A-League 2015/16 Season and outlined the positive impact that the Central Coast Mariners Centre of Excellence will have on the Mariners Football Club.
“The Mariners Centre of Excellence has been a vision for this club since our inception 11 years ago and now through the determination and confidence shown by our owner Mike Charlesworth we are all here today to see the crucial 2nd phase launched,” Mielekamp said.
“The Centre of Excellence Masterplan is also unveiling here today and showcases the potential of this complex to become one of the most iconic and unparalleled sporting facilities in NSW.
“Our goal at the Central Coast Mariners is to become the most innovative, entertaining and community minded sports brand in Australia. This is no easy feat and we are well on our way to achieving this goal.
“It is with tremendous pride that I can officially announce that the Central Coast Mariners Football Club will definitely post a profit in our 2015/16 season which is a truly amazing achievement when considering where we were just 12 months ago.
“I must take this opportunity to pay particular credit to Executive Vice Chairman Peter Storrie, Chief Financial Officer Kathryn Duncan and Head Coach Tony Walmsley for making the tough decisions and performing with clarity of purpose within the resources available to ensure that this season is a profitable one and sets the platform for future success,” Mielekamp said
Hon. Malcolm Turnbull MP, Prime Minister of Australia congratulated the Central Coast Mariners on the opening of the Centre of Excellence.
“Shaun & Peter, congratulations to you, this is a truly outstanding development,” Mr Turnbull said.
“I just want to say how thrilled I am to be here on the Central Coast and see the development of this fantastic precinct. Shaun believe me, the innovation you’re showing here today is the spirit of innovation that ensures that we transition from an economy that’s been fuelled by a mining and construction boom to one that’s more diverse, more technologically sophisticated, more productive and above all, more agile.
“You need to be innovative, you need to do things differently, you need to think outside of the square and that is what Shaun and his team have done here. You’ve developed here in this precinct, a world-class-sporting centre.
“This type of entrepreneurship, investment and innovation is what will secure our prosperity in the 21st century,” Mr Turnbull said.
Mrs. Karen McNamara MP celebrated the occasion as a great moment for the Central Coast.
“To see what the Mariners and their business partners have created is fantastic,” McNamara said. “This is a great boost for the Central Coast, what we are seeing here today is when the community and a great community club come together,” McNamara said.
