Gold Coast Arena at Southport: Why residents back it as the gamechanger the area needs despite fears raised by opponents
The Mayor, business leaders and most residents are backing a new indoor arena at Southport. However some fear it will make the area’s problems worse. One thing they agree on – it will change the Gold Coast’s CBD forever. READ OUR SPECIAL REPORT
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Residents have backed the Gold Coast Arena because it would prevent them driving to Brisbane or travelling interstate for international music and sports events, survey results reveal.
One of the top benefits of a stadium at Carey Park in Southport, they said, was their home city could finally host major entertainment acts at a stadium for 8000 to 12,000 fans.
But the venue would need to have state-of-the-art acoustics and provide a “world class experience” – stepping up from Brisbane’s Boondall Centre built in 1985 for 11,000 fans.
Councillors on Tuesday ticked off on $500,000 being allocated to Invest Gold Coast – the new entity charged with attracting major investment – to make the Gold Coast Arena a priority project.
Only councillors Dan Doran and Naomi Fowler were opposed. Peter Young abstained.
A stadium is likely to cost at least $350 million. Mayor Tom Tate believes a public-private partnership will see little cost to ratepayers, and ruled out a special levy.
But the decision and debate – all behind closed doors for commercial reasons – has critics.
Save Our Spit has accused Premier David Crisafulli and the Mayor of a “midnight land-grab scheme”, claiming there were better sites for an Olympic venue than a public park at Southport. They say the consultation was a “farce”.
The Government’s 100-day Olympic review, released in March, found that the stadium at Southport was essential.
Save Our Carey Park chairperson Sarah Arbiter was also scathing of the public consultation in the lead-up to the Games announcement.
Ms Arbiter has likened it to a “kindergarten-style setting” with residents presented with conceptual drawings while their concerns about traffic solutions were not addressed.
“Even the council admits that significant technical studies, detailed designs and comprehensive investigations are still required before the project could realistically move forward,” she said.
Ms Arbiter said Mr Tate failed with getting a casino on the site and now wanted an arena.
“This is what a vendetta looks like. Carey Park has become his obsession – and come hell or high water, he seems determined to claim it,” she said.
But CBD Gold Coast CEO Graham Staerk says businesses unanimously support the project.
“It’s a catalyst project the CBD has been waiting for. It will also have the knock on effect of bringing more jobs and housing to Southport, which we badly need,” he said.
The Bulletin has obtained the full 34-page report on the City’s survey – conducted between November and December last year – which says the Arena will create 340 full time jobs and add $49 million in gross regional product.
“An Indoor Entertainment and Sports Arena would be the next major project to transform the city’s entertainment,” the report says.
A total of 5263 surveys were completed via GC Have Your Say. The key findings are:
* The majority of respondents (75 per cent) were supportive of an arena on the Gold Coast.
* 63 per cent of respondents think “opportunity for the Gold Coast to host more national and international touring acts” is a top benefit.
* 57 per cent of respondents think “patrons don’t have to travel to Brisbane or other
capital cities to attend events” is another big plus.
* 62 per cent of respondents support the Arena at Carey Park, Southport with 9 per cent selecting “neutral”.
* 52 per cent of respondents said they would like to see “improved pedestrian connection to Broadwater Parklands”.
The report says five publicly owned sites were considered, with Carey Park scoring “highly”.
On Carey Park, 61 per cent of residents supported the Arena being located there. Support among Southport residents was 52 per cent. In the greater Southport area, the support was 58 per cent. About 800 people attended pop-up events.
Mr Tate said once the State Government had transferred ownership of its land at Carey Park to council the City would work as quickly as possible to “test the market”.
“This is how I’d like to see it done. Within two months all the paperwork is done regarding transferring of ownership, within six months the master plan of DA (development application) is done and already out to the marketplace for private public partnership,” he said.
“Twelve months after that to finalise the DA but that will include the overall master plan for Southport. I’d say two and half years build. That should take us to the end of 2028. I say legacy for the 2032 Olympics – having legacy four years in advance. We want test it for four years so when we use it for the Olympics it is perfect.”
Residents in community consultation raised concerns about safety in Southport, the need for more parking and greater connection with the light rail.
They also wanted the City to “ensure a world class acoustic experience” at the venue.
Other sites earlier considered included the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre at Broadbeach, the Southport Sharks, Miami council depot, an area opposite Pacific Fair and several ageing carparks in the Southport CBD.
Originally published as Gold Coast Arena at Southport: Why residents back it as the gamechanger the area needs despite fears raised by opponents
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