Stage one of the upgrade will see the establishment of a new and improved gym, a new multi-purpose hall and a brand new customer service area and new offices for Sport UNE staff.

The upgrades will also result in added car parking for the venue.

“We wanted to make just one main point of entry and service, as it is now people can enter from two places and have to walk a few metres before being served,” said Sport UNE executive director Dave Schmude.

The new facilities will coincide with the start of new degrees at The University Of New England in sports science, sports physiology, and exercise physiology with Sport UNE to be a focal point for the teaching of these degrees.

There are two more stages of upgrades planned that are waiting on funding approval but if they are approved they will include a facelift of the existing pool and a new warm water pool.

Work on stage one commenced in mid august and is expected to be finished in April and is being built by Brisbane firm Box and Co.

“The first stage of the upgrade was funded through VSU transition funding and UNE contributions and stages two or three are in the pipeline at the moment we’re just waiting of funding approval,” Schmude told The Express.