Games ghost town figures revealed by struggling small businesses

The State Government is being told by small business what really went down with the Commonwealth Games.

GOLD Coast small businesses have urged the State Government conduct a review and provide compensation to traders who suffered during the Commonwealth Games.

NightQuarter at Helensvale, which employs 600 people and more than 100 small businesses, said trade reached 10-20 per cent of what was promised during the city’s biggest-ever event.

Food stalls under the hangar at NightQuarter in Helensvale. Picture: Supplied

In a letter to Games Minister Kate Jones, NightQuarter co-owner Michelle Christoe said GOLDOC encouraged the entertainment precinct to be part of Festival 2018, for which it delivered 75 events.

GOLDOC had forecast that 1.55 million people would pass through the Helensvale transport hub, providing 15,770 in bus queues and 2000 moving from heavy to light rail daily, Ms Christoe wrote.

But the transport scare campaign turned people away and NightQuarter found:

● Only 10 to 20 per cent of that estimate in visitor numbers was achieved;

● Users had to return to park’n’ ride locations within an hour of their event;

● Day-trippers from Brisbane and northern NSW dropped from 19 per cent to one per cent of business;

● Five stallholders left permanently and 20 closed during the Games;

Bonney MP Sam O'Connor with colleague Ros Bates — he has been discussing the impact of the Games on small business.

● Small businesses which would sell $9000 a day were below $700.

“Our income during this time was one-third or our usual takings and our expenses doubled,” Ms Christoe wrote.

Small businesses wants the federal and state governments conduct a review and “provide some relief to small business on the Gold Coast”.

“We have since been quieter than normal trading and definitely not the economic boost that was promised,” Ms Christoe wrote.

“We thought there would be a campaign to offset what had happened, to offset the scare campaign.”

BUSINESS LEADERS LIVID OVER GAMES CONTRACTS

GAMES DOWNTURN PREDICTED IN 2017 REPORT

BEATTIE ATTACKS BUSINESS “WHINGERS”

Games Minister Kate Jones plans to reply to the letters as the Government works on how best to use the contingency funds. (AAP Image/Glenn Hunt)

Bonney MP Sam O’Connor said at least $1 million in contingency funds had been “returned” to the Government and should be used to help small business.

“This money has already been budgeted by the State Government as part of the funding provided to ensure the Games were a success. It is already committed to the Gold Coast,” he wrote to Ms Jones.

“It should not be put back into the State Government’s coffers to be spent somewhere else in Queensland.”

Ms Jones plans to reply to both letters as the government determines how to best use the contingency funds.

Acting Games Minister Leeanne Enoch last night told the Bulletin: “We’ll give priority to initiatives that deliver the greatest legacy outcomes for Gold Coasters.

“A post-Games evaluation report is on track to be published in 2019. A final evaluation report is also expected in 2023.

“The post-Games report will include detail about the benefits of initiatives like Festival 2018, the GC2018 Reconciliation Action Plan and the sports asset legacy program.

“It will also include detailed economic, trade and tourism benefits as well as an analysis of how Games venues have been utilised.”