Revealed: what Gold Coasters think of boutique stadium
The push for an indoor stadium at Carey Park at Southport is facing public backlash and potential cultural heritage blockages, with the community divided over the $300m project.
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The push for an indoor stadium at Carey Park at Southport is facing public backlash and potential cultural heritage blockages as consultation heats up.
The Bulletin in April first revealed Carey Park was the favoured site for the
new Gold Coast indoor entertainment and sports stadium, with a price tag for the build ranging up to $300m to create a venue holding up to 12,000 people.
As promised, council has announced it would go to public consultation which has led to protest placards being placed on fencing around the park in the CBD.
The Hands Off Public Land signage is urging residents to “have your say” at two stakeholder meetings, the first starting at the Lawson Street Community Centre at 8am on Tuesday.
Southport resident Eddy Sarroff, a former councillor encouraged unit owners to attend.
“I’m attending to ask important and complex questions. I look right across the park there (from my unit) and there’s going to be noise complaints (with concerts),” he said.
“Perhaps the biggest issue at the moment is the size of it. We want to really understand how big it is.”
Southport councillor Brooke Patterson faced a wave of protest when promoting consultation on her official Facebook page.
She said officers had arranged the first two meetings on Tuesday, where residents — after a direct mail-out from council — could be provided with a more detailed briefing in private.
“So they can ask them a lot of questions. Then there will be more open sessions later on at Australia Fair,” she said.
Residents on her Facebook page have asked about the value of the public land.
“Councillor are you aware that Carey Park has heritage listing. Our city has many places of heritage value, including buildings, infrastructure, cemeteries, archaeological sites, gardens and urban precincts,” a resident wrote.
Cr Patterson in a response wrote; “I’m pleased to hear it. Love those trees.”
Another resident wrote: “Wrong location, undersized, loss of green space, loss of parking and the obvious traffic congestion issues that come with it. We’ve been down this path before with this very site. Hands off.”
Cr Patterson told residents the site, regarded as one of the best parcels of unused commercial land in the city, would be developed.
“State Government land in a vital spot — it will happen. I want to ensure when it is, it is what the community would want the most,” she said.
“Between the options of a casino, public housing or an indoor stadium, at the moment, I’m thinking the stadium makes the most sense.
“I have already given feedback to officers and council I will not support loss of parking and want to make sure any high-value trees are protected.
“Indigenous leaders have confirmed the site has huge significance (and are) aware its on the radar for development.”
Mayor Tom Tate said he had received positive feedback on the proposal and looked forward to the results.
“It’s been thumbs up so far. We need a 12,000-seat arena so that we can put more events on and we might be able to attract a national basketball team to represent the Coast and that will promote the city throughout Australia,” he said.
“Consultation is a wonderful thing and if you don’t like something come up with a solution and pick me a better site and say why and we will consider it.”
Mr Tate said Carey Park was a logical location which had much to offer.
“This site is interesting because it is right in the middle of the CBD, it has two light-rail stops around it, it’s on the main highway and has carparking all around it.
“It’s akin to the MCG so when the Test match is over, people can just disperse, they can go to the restaurants and places of joy. There will be more restaurants within the area.”
Gold Coasters give their view of boutique stadium
High-profile Gold Coasters like the site and plan for a proposed boutique indoor stadium in Southport - regardless of what it looks like.
New plans, released in the first week of November and revealed by the Bulletin on Friday, showed Southport’s Carey Park as home to the council’s proposed “world class indoor sports and entertainment venue”.
Fresh plans project the venue to deliver $1.5bn in economic output in its first decade, putting an extra $700m into the economy.
Gold Coast entrepreneur Billy Cross said he thought the proposed stadium was “a game changer” for the city.
“It really opens us up to be part of the touring circuit with artists, for sporting events like basketball. It really gives us something we can really work on for shows and for sporting events,” he said.
“When I looked at where it was, being on the light rail, it’s so easy to get to.
“It looks amazing, it’s so modern, it’s designed perfectly - how the big front entrance pathway comes to the road there at Queen Street, it’s absolutely amazing.”
Various opinions so far say it looks like a ‘cake tin’ or ‘flying saucer’.
Mr Cross said: “But don’t worry what it looks like because it’s going to cater for festivals and concerts and shows and sporting events up to 12,000 people, that itself is a game changer.
“Shows won’t be just going to Brisbane anymore, they will be coming via the Gold Coast as well which brings a massive economic benefit and really revitalises Southport,” the Manpower founder and Nineteen at the Star partner said.
LNP MP for Southport Rob Molhoek said he had wanted to see the Gold Coast secure a boutique stadium for a long time.
“I wasn’t expecting it to come up at Carey Park as a preferred site but I do think it will be good for the city and good for Southport,” he said.
“I’ve had a couple of people raise concerns with me and said ‘You were so strongly opposed to the global tourism hub’,” he said in reference to a second casino complex proposed for the same site years ago.
“I’ve simply said ‘I think there’s a significant difference between a casino and a tourist resort being sold off to private enterprise with no real community benefit, and the council building public infrastructure which has community benefit.
“I don’t think you can really compare the two, this is something that - if it happens - will be developed by the city, for the city and for Gold Coasters.”
Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce president Laura Younger said she “certainly’ supported the stadium.
“The fact it will generate some excellent income into the Gold Coast is incredibly important, and we should view this as an excellent opportunity. It’s a terrific concept,” she said, adding the site seemed “sensible”.
“It’s an all new tourism product, and that’s something we desperately need.”
It has been tipped to create 740 full-time jobs once operational and host 80 major events annually.
Plans reveal:
*A pedestrian bridge across the Gold Coast Highway to the Southport Broadwater Parklands;
* Public parking retained on the northern tip of the site near Australia Fair shopping centre;
* A giant public plaza on the southern side connecting it to Queen Street.
Community consultation runs until December 9.
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