‘Think big’: Bold convention centre vision for CBD

Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien says a convention centre in the Maroochydore CBD is a must. But do you agree? TAKE THE POLL

Hosting the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games is our opportunity to be bold and think big.

While some ideas can afford time to ruminate, others require action more immediately.

Major infrastructure projects fall into this category, and at this stage I want to propose two ideas for the community to consider.

Firstly, I propose we pursue two new rail lines: a new line to Nambour that will deliver full duplication - that is, two tracks – from Beerburrum to Nambour and a new line using the CAMCOS corridor from Beerwah to the Maroochydore CBD.

If it were up to me, these new lines would be fast rail connections to enable trips to Brisbane within an hour. But, alas, the Queensland Government which owns and operates the rail system doesn’t agree.

We don’t have time for years of a political squabble about fast rail, so last week I tabled a deal that I’m hoping the state and federal governments might consider.

That is, I’m proposing these two lines be built as extensions of the Queensland Government’s existing rail network, but that they be designed straight and wide enough to accommodate fast rail in the future.

Since the 2032 Games will see the mountain bikes event within kilometres of the Nambour station and basketball preliminaries may be played in the Maroochydore CBD, it strengthens our argument for these investments.

Secondly, I propose we create a truly iconic landmark in the Maroochydore CBD. For years, the Sunshine Coast community has lamented the lack of a convention and performing arts centre and I believe the 2032 Games provides our greatest chance to secure such a facility.

We know a new facility needs to be built on the Sunshine Coast to host preliminary basketball for the 2032 Games, funded through a 50:50 partnership between the federal and state governments, and maximising participation from the local council and private sector. This is our opportunity.

Let’s not aim for a stock-standard building that hosts basketball alone. Let’s boldly pursue something truly iconic, a landmark building as a lasting legacy. I envisage a multipurpose centre in the Maroochydore CBD used for major national indoor sporting events, global hi-tech eSports competitions to world class performing arts and major conventions and exhibitions.

These are bold ideas, I know. But, they’re worth going for. What’s more, there’s a synergy between them. That is, if we were to host preliminary basketball in an iconic building within the Maroochydore CBD, it would strengthen our case for billions of dollars to bring heavy rail into the site.

This is what being bold and thinking big is all about. If hosting the world’s biggest event isn’t a good enough excuse to think like this, what is?

Ted O’Brien is the federal member for Fairfax and the Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s special Olympics envoy.

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