The AUD$6.5 million (£3.5 million/$4.6 million/€4.1 million) International Freestyle Skiing Training Facility is a collaboration between the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia (OWIA), the Federal Government through Sport Australia, the Queensland Government and the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC).

The Queensland Government will provide the location adjacent to the Olympic-sized swimming pool in Chandler, with total funding for the facility from the Federal Government and AOC.

The centre will host elite aerial and mogul skiers, athletes of all ages and abilities seeking to develop in these disciplines and overseas sports tourists.

Queensland has a unique Winter Olympic heritage, with Brisbane’s Steven Bradbury famously claiming Australia’s first-ever gold medal at the Games in Salt Lake City in 2002.

With aerial and mogul skiers providing eight of Australia’s 15 medals in Winter Olympics, including three gold, it is claimed the facility will see Queensland as the development hub for future Olympic champions.

The project will be managed by the OWIA, who have been instrumental in securing this Australian-first facility.

OWIA chair Geoff Henke believes the go-ahead is a tremendous boost for Winter Olympic sport in Australia.

"I am excited this facility will come to fruition and continue to develop Australian freestyle skiers of all ages and abilities," he said.

"At the elite level this will eliminate a competitive disadvantage, allowing Australian athletes to train at home that provides a critical edge.

"It also provides a talent pathway to identify and develop talent from the grassroots up to ensure Winter Sports continue to grow.

"After working to develop this project for a long time, my heartfelt thanks go to the Federal Government and AOC for the funding, the Queensland Government who have provided a home for this world-class facility and the Australian institute of Sport for ongoing support in developing winter athletes."

Federal Sports Minister Bridget McKenzie claimed the Government’s AUD$4.5 million (£2.4 million/$3.2 million/€2.8 million) contribution creates the opportunity for Australia to produce the next generation of Olympic champions to join the likes of freestyle skiers Alisa Camplin, Dale Beg-Smith and Lydia Lassila.

"This facility will be a game-changer for Australian winter sport," he said.

"Our Australian winter athletes have been so successful in freestyle skiing despite their training disadvantages, and they have inspired the next generation of participants in skiing - and hopefully producing more Olympic heroes.

"The Liberal and Nationals Government, along with peak sport agencies Sport Australia and the Australian Institute of Sport, are proud to support this project that will give future athletes a world-leading facility at home."

Lassila, a five-time Olympian and winner of the women's aerials gold medal at Vancouver 2010 and bronze at Sochi 2014, is excited by the benefits of the water ramp, which will see athletes reach speeds of up to 70 kilometres per hour and launch 17 metres in the air.

"This ramp will be incredible for winter sport in Australia," she said.

"It means having more people participating in the sport, funding going to athlete development rather than travel costs and allowing athletes to spend more time in the country rather than 10 months a year overseas.

"Having that home base is so important - both for performance and to provide for a more balanced life close to your family and support group. 

"This ramp will be the best in the world and showcase the spectacular feats of winter athletes - having Australian kids see Winter Olympians in action in the flesh will make it so much more tangible and help inspire our next generation."

The Sleeman Sports Complex boasts an Olympic-sized pool, accommodation, gymnastic centre, fitness centre and athlete rehabilitation as well as the Anna Meares Velodrome and BMX track, making it a hub for talent development and performance for current and future Olympians.

OWIA intends to work closely with Stadiums Queensland to manage the facility.

Colliers International is managing construction of the water ramp, with work expected to begin mid-2019 and practical completion due early 2020.

Scheduled for almost a decade, the initial Brisbane plan fell through after a change of Government in 2012 and a suggested site in Lennox Head on the New South Wales north coast was abandoned in 2017 following complaints from residents about the proposed structure.

But OWIA chief executive Geoff Lipshut told Australian Associated Press it would proceed this time, adding a possible change of Federal Government in May would not affect things.

The lack of a home facility was pinpointed as a reason for Australia not managing to win an aerials medal at Pyeongchang 2018, the first time the country had failed to do so at a Winter Olympics since 1998.

Camplin won women's gold at Salt Lake City 2002 before taking bronze at Turin 2006.

Lassila kept the run going with her gold at Vancouver 2010 and bronze at Sochi 2014, where David Morris was the men's aerials silver medallist. 

In total, Australia collected two silver and one bronze medal at Pyeongchang 2018.