Chamber of Commerce calls for local grants and infrastructure boost following Gold Coast Comm Games budget savings

A Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce has called for a spending spree for the city after it was revealed the State Government is set to pocket millions from Commonwealth Games savings.

GOLD Coast business leaders are demanding a spending spree to compensate for losses suffered during the staging of the Commonwealth Games last year.

The call has been prompted by the revelation the State Government will pocket millions from Commonwealth Games savings.

A Queensland Audit Office report has confirmed delivering the Games last year came in well below budget, with a $167 million surplus now set to be poured back into Queensland Government coffers.

Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce President Martin Hall. Picture: Richard Gosling

But the Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce says the money should be used to compensate local businesses that suffered losses during the Games.

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Chamber president Martin Hall said some businesses were left dead during the Games, and the money should be spent to “offset” those losses.

“The Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce was very supportive of the Commonwealth Games but there were some significant losers as well as winners in the business community,’’ he said.

The Gold Coast Commonweath Games Athletes Village helped with the surplus, coming in $14 million under its $250 million budget. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

“In parts of the city, particularly the tourism destinations, the streets were empty.”

Mr Hall said the money could be used for grants and incentives for local businesses to help them bounce back from the disruption.

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The chamber also supported the money being used on struggling infrastructure, including state-controlled roads, the M1 and preparing for the proposed alternative motorway that has been called the Coomera Connector.

“The State Government, GOLDOC and the council spent time and effort examining the legacy that the Games would leave and this $167 million saving could go some way to substantially improving the legacy of the Games for business owners,” Mr Hall said.

Commonwealth Games night life in Surfers Paradise. Picture Mike Batterham

Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones has previously praised the “cost-effective” event and said it gave “value for money” to taxpayers.

The biggest saving came from sparing the $99 million safety net that had been set aside for extreme weather conditions, but was not needed during the event.

Money was also saved by cutting $14 million from the athletes village as well as increased revenue, including ticket sales.