Exclusive: City survey finds super majority support for Gold Coast Arena
A survey has shown what Gold Coast residents think about a proposed indoor arena at Southport as council prepares for a crucial vote on the matter. READ THE RESULTS
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Three quarters of residents support the construction of the proposed Gold Coast Arena, according to a council survey.
Councillors were due to go into a closed session of full council late on Tuesday to discuss a “status report” on the indoor stadium – proposed for a site at Carey Park in Southport – which is regarded as essential infrastructure for the 2032 Olympic Games.
“Council conducted consultation with the community,” a council source said. “It shows there is 75 per cent support for the project.”
The source added that the City now believed it had a mandate for the arena.
“State government has asked us ‘will we formally resolve that we will build the arena on the site?’,” the source said.
“It will be a speedy planning process. It will be a public-private partnership. The council will retain ownership of the land with some sort of lease.”
Mayor Tom Tate said the City would move as quickly as possible to test the market on the project once paperwork was completed in two months on transferring land ownership from the State Government to council.
He said a two and a half year build would see the stadium finished in 2028.
“I’d say having legacy for the 2032 Olympics – legacy is four years in advance, not close to the Games, it’s the pre-Game legacy we are after and we want to test it for four years when they use it for Olympic venue it will be perfect,” he said.
Asked about ratepayer cost, he replied he would work hard to make it “as little as possible” and ruled out a “special levy” for it.
But the City can expect a backlash from Southport CBD residents, who learned from the State Government’s 100 day review into the 2032 Olympic Games that council would allow nearby roads to be closed for construction of the Arena.
Save Our Carey Park chairperson Sarah Arbiter said they believed the Arena would not fit the site proposed, which would mean no surplus land would be available for deliveries, parking for construction crews and emergency services.
“In the Southport community directly surrounding Carey Park there are a number of buildings with an ageing population. It can be frightening for residents feeling as though they won’t get access to ambulances or support services in the event of an accident,” Ms Arbiter said.
“Likewise, there are residents who work and need access in and out of the area throughout the day and night. Road closures just won’t be acceptable.”
Ms Arbiter said road closures and restricted parking during events at the Arena would extend further than Marine Parade.
“The restrictions will go past Sundale and over to Overall Park at least and then west probably as far as High Street. This will be known as the Carey Park Precinct,” she said.
Residents believe the recent Out 2 Lunch festival headlined by DJ Fisher at the Broadwater Parklands showed light rail could not cope with the number of fans.
“At the Gabba, buses queue along Stanley Street and number upwards of 30. There is no ability for Marine Parade to accommodate these numbers,” Ms Arbiter said.
“Traffic gridlock will occur on the Gold Coast Highway from Labrador to Sundale Bridge in both directions and Queen Street will not be able to cope with the traffic congestion with three sets of lights within two kilometres.”
Southport residents in March said they believed the city’s consultation on the future of Carey Park was a “farce” after a deal was hatched to build the indoor stadium before the Olympics
In a deal with the Crisafulli Government, council will get the prime Southport CBD land at no cost to build the Arena for the Olympics.
Mr Tate regards the indoor stadium as the city’s biggest legacy “since canal estates” and possible future home for a national basketball team.
The Government 100-day review said the 12,000 to 15,000 seat stadium, which could cost $350 million, would be “fully funded by the City of Gold Coast”
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Originally published as Exclusive: City survey finds super majority support for Gold Coast Arena
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