Letters: Bring NRL grand final to Suncorp Stadium

Today readers have their say on calls for Suncorp Stadium to host the 2020 NRL grand final, the need to retain Moreton Bay’s natural attractions and the future of coal.

Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter Beattie. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

YOUR Editorial (C-M, Jun 15) was right to push for holding the 2020 NRL grand final at the purpose-built Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane instead of the Sydney Cricket Ground.

It seems ridiculous that such a major rugby league event would be staged on an oval-shaped cricket ground.

Queensland has an envelope of opportunity to host the grand final as the ANZ Stadium in Sydney will be out of action next year.

Hosting the grand final at Suncorp Stadium would be not only good for Queensland but would be good for the game nationally by creating a bigger stadium audience and the novelty of a first-time Queensland venue.

Queensland has a proven track record in enthusiasm for rugby league since the game was first played here in 1908.

Queensland’s record over NSW in State of Origin also speaks volumes for our love of the game in this state.

It is a no-brainer for the Smart State to hold the 2020 grand final in Brisbane.

David Muir, Indooroopilly

THE nonsensical idea that the NRL grand final should be played at the SCG boggles the mind.

Who wants to watch the footy at a rinky-dink cricket ground?

Since when did Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter Beattie change his colours and pander to our southern counterparts? Instead he should display the courage of his convictions, not make lame excuses citing a “contract” that was drawn up for venues that are currently in play.

One would think there are sufficient grounds to nullify this supposed contract.

Suncorp Stadium is not only the best option, it is uniquely supported by a cornucopia of top-shelf hospitality venues in a safe and welcoming environment in a precinct masterful in its execution of well-honed game-day strategies.

The Magic Round and the recent State of Origin I were just the latest example.

The fans clearly love our Brisbane venue and even many players – former and current – cite its superiority.

So come on Mr Beattie, make a proper stand for your home state and bring the grand final to Queensland, not just for the benefit of our economy but out of a sense of justice to all the NRL fans who deserve their beloved sport to be played on our nation’s top rugby league field.

Sarosh Mehta, St Lucia

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An artist’s impression of part of the $1.4 billion Toondah Harbour development.

DON’T DESTROY BAY’S KEY ATTRACTIONS

YOUR Tourism Australia feature article (C-M, Jun 15) rightly stated that Moreton Bay is the “most astonishing asset we have” in southeast Queensland and went on to outline future developments in

the pipeline, including the proposed $1.4 billion Toondah Harbour development in Cleveland.

What started as an idea to upgrade the North Stradbroke Island ferry terminal (which no one denies is needed) has morphed into a large-scale residential development with 10-storey towers comprising 3600 units proposed on 40ha of reclaimed RAMSAR-listed wetland in our precious Moreton Bay.

What a disgrace that the State Government and Redland City Mayor Karen Williams have to date supported this proposal against the advice of federal environmental scientific advisers, who early in the process deemed the proposal “clearly unacceptable” and would result in irreversible damage to a wetland.

Debbie Pointing, Capalaba

I READ with some dismay the story on “opening up” Moreton Bay to massive tourism.

In other words, turning a paradise into a theme park.

As a scuba diver for more than 30 years, I’ve dived on what were probably once pristine reefs overseas and in Australia, but now are nearly dead because of overuse and boat traffic.

Moreton Bay has some of the best diving in the world and it’s fine just the way it is.

Thousands of tourists and locals come every year to enjoy the beauty and serenity of Moreton Bay and its surrounds.

Please, let’s give some thought to the consequences of “opening it up” to the world.

Bill McCarthy, Yeronga

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A large truck hauling coal. How much longer will coal be part of our energy future?

COAL POWER FADING

CONTRARY to Doug Spence’s view (Letters, Jun 15), it is fossil fuels such as coal that are fighting a “rearguard effort” against renewables, and the economic and social issues forcing this transition cannot be dismissed as “red herrings”.

Vested interests using old technologies usually defend themselves against the new, and our generation has the misfortune to suffer the propaganda wars during this transition.

The reality is that Australian power companies have rejected Coalition government pressures to build new coal-fired electricity generators, or rebuild old generators as they wear out, and are turning to gas (which still emits carbon dioxide, albeit less than coal), and renewables such as wind and solar with storage, as cheaper and/or more convenient/flexible than coal.

Over the longer term, gas is a limited resource that is better reserved for other industrial uses, while oil should be reserved for air transport where there is no viable substitute.

In addition to these arguments of price, convenience and conservation, we would be foolish not to take the risk of global warming seriously and should expedite the transition to renewables while assisting those servicing the old technologies as they are phased out.

Donald Maclean, Fig Tree Pocket

THE fossil fuel lobby will be delighted that the Adani project looks like going ahead.

It has been considerably reduced in size and, while jobs are always welcome, prospective numbers appear to be minimal in the wider context of unemployment in that region.

Even if one accepts that coal and gas will be part of the energy mix for years to come, this will be a challenge for progressive politicians who look to an alternative renewable future for the nation.

In the aftermath of the closure of the Hazelwood power station and mine, workers there have been retrained and redeployed to other sectors of the workforce.

Meanwhile, Clive Palmer and Gina Rinehart will be looking at more coal mining ventures being opened up in the Galilee Basin.

The media will use this turn of events to drive a wedge between Labor and the Greens and the prospect looms that a government that had no agenda beyond tax cuts will remain in the ascendant for years to come.

Francis Carroll, Moorooka

FOR those of us who are concerned about the decision to approve the Adani mine, it is time to insist that our superannuation funds consider following the Norwegian future funds example, and divest from fossil fuel companies.

Helping “market forces” will make power cheaper, and besides there are more jobs in renewables.

I can’t imagine that the Norwegians would do this if it was going to be a loss-making decision.

Marianne Cannon, Ashgrove

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