Gold Coast Commonwealth Games athletes face traffic trauma, says Councillor Dawn Crichlow

ONE of the Gold Coast’s most experienced councillors fears the city’s overwhelmed road network could turn an athlete’s Commonwealth Games dream into a nightmare.

ONE of the Gold Coast’s most experienced councillors fears the city’s overwhelmed road network could turn an athlete’s Commonwealth Games dream into a nightmare.

In the wake of a festive season where the M1 and major arterials repeatedly struggled to cope with holiday traffic, Cr Dawn Crichlow has become the first City representative to question organisers’ repeated assertions that the transport system will cope during the Games.

M1 holiday traffic heading south (on the right). Taken from the Bermuda street exit. Picture: Jerad Williams

The veteran Southport councillor joins the countless residents and local Opposition MPs concerned about potential transport chaos, including Mudgeeraba MP Ros Bates who last week predicted a looming “international failure”.

“I think it’s going to be very difficult for those athletes,” Cr Crichlow said. “I really do … if I was an athlete, I’d be a nervous wreck if I got stalled in traffic.

“Even if you’re driving someone to the airport and you know you’ve got to get them there on time, your blood pressure goes up from the stress.

Councilor Dawn Crichlow. Photo: Jerad Williams

“It would be disastrous if athletes were late for their warm-ups or events … it wouldn’t be good (for the image of our city) but you have to think of the athletes first.

“This is their lives we’re talking about … (and) I don’t want to see them stressed.”

It comes as holiday traffic has wreaked havoc on the M1 this summer break, with the entire strip from Yatala to Coolangatta a virtual car park more than three times in the past fortnight.

The chaos overflowed to other main arterial roads across the city, including Bermuda St, Hope Island Rd and Brisbane Rd.

Commonwealth Games organising committee chairman Peter Beattie. Picture: Peter Wallis

At the time, GOLDOC chairman Peter Beattie insisted strategically timed events and transport plans would ensure the motorway was not gridlocked during the Games.

“What people see of the M1 now isn’t what they’ll see during the Games,” he said at a recent press conference.

“Don’t forget most of the events aren’t held in peak hours ... and you’ve (also) got school holidays.”

The 2018 Commonwealth Games Village in Southport. Picture: Jerad Williams

Cr Crichlow expressed concerns about events being held at Coomera and Coolangatta, claiming former Games chairman Nigel Chamier previously said every venue had to be within a 20-minute drive of the athletes village at Southport.

“I remember clearly one of the councillors said ‘What about having (a venue) at Coomera?’ and he said ‘If we put something at Coomera, we may as well do it at Gympie or Toowoomba’,” she said of the man who headed GOLDOC from May 2012 to May 2016.

“He said everything had to be within 20 minutes of the village so that’s a bit of a worry. The goalposts have changed.”

Coomera Indoor Sports Centre for the Commonwealth Games

The Coomera Indoor Sports Centre, built in 2015, was part of the original bid, while beach volleyball was added to the Games schedule in May 2016. It is understood the International Beach Volleyball Federation has no concerns with athlete travel times from Parklands to Coolangatta.

“It has always been our priority to provide a stress-free experience for athletes so they can perform at their best,” GOLDOC chief executive Mark Peters said.

“GOLDOC has been working closely with the City (of Gold Coast) and Transport and Main Roads to ensure traffic is suitably managed during the Games, including for athletes travelling to and from venues.

“GC2018 events have been spread throughout the city to showcase it at its best and provide proximity to the sports and Festival 2018 events for as many residents as possible.”