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Buggered if I know - I never pay much attention to venue plans.

Lol surprisingly I do and have forgotten.

I just was reading and Townsville and Cairns are hosting basketball should be interesting.

Brisbane just has track cycling and shooting.

http://www.goldcoastcity2018.com/content/Standard2.asp?name=Sporting-Venues

Edited by intoronto1125
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Looks like Hambantota wasn't the only one who could count on Chinese money to pay for the games:

Chinese on mission to build for Games

CHINESE investors are lining up to build the Gold Coast's 2018 Commonwealth Games infrastructure.

Developers from China have come knocking on organisers' doors to examine opportunities around the Games Village and the proposed Health and Knowledge precinct at Parklands.

CEO for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Mark Peters, confirmed that investors from the Asian powerhouse had approached his organisation about opportunities linked to the Games.

The interest comes off the back of Tourism and Commonwealth Games Minister Jann Stuckey's trade mission to China in July, and ahead of Mayor Tom Tate's visit to the region next month to promote tourism infrastructure investment.

"If it is the market of the future, there is an opportunity here with the Games," Mr Peters said.

"I have been approached by a number of Chinese investors looking into the opportunities at Parklands, whether to be involved in the Health and Knowledge precinct or some type of student accommodation which could be used during the Games," Mr Peters said.

Parklands will be vacated to make way for the Athletes' Village.

According to the bid book, there are plans to transform the Games village into a Health and Knowledge precinct after the 11-day event but negotiations with the State Government and the Gold Coast City Council over funding commitments are continuing.

The Bulletin believes the bid book proposal -- which includes the Health and Knowledge precinct -- may be scaled down as the Government addresses its tight budget.

Sources believe the Chinese, who are looking to park their money in a more stable economy, could unlock the potential of the site.

"It is interesting that still five and a half years out, the investors are looking," Mr Peters said.

He said he had sent them to the council and State Government to continue talks.

"We have been allocated the biggest event -- it is the Gold Coast's -- and that's putting us up there in the same breath as the major cities like Melbourne, Sydney and Perth," Mr Peters said.

Ms Stuckey said the state's Tourism Investment Attraction Unit had attracted scores of people looking to build in Queensland.

"There's a high interest from the Chinese and from many other countries," Ms Stuckey said.

"We are open for business but the due diligence process will take place."

Mr Peters said Mayor Tom Tate's plans for a cruise ship terminal, cultural precinct and casino were also helping to put the city on the map.

Mr Peters also reaffirmed the Games would remain on the Coast.

Gold Coast Bulletin

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Not likely, as much as Qld. Premier Campbell Newman wishes it was.

Gold Coast and Brisbane are close, but ultimately two separate cities 90 minutes drive apart. It would be like having a Hamilton Commonwealth Games half staged in Toronto.

It's not 90 minutes. It's 60 minutes to the heart of surfers paradise depends which venue.

Campbell Newman is a dropkick who hopefully won't be re-elected. There is no chance of this turning into Brisbane 2018. The LNP will back down.

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It's not 90 minutes. It's 60 minutes to the heart of surfers paradise depends which venue.

Campbell Newman is a dropkick who hopefully won't be re-elected. There is no chance of this turning into Brisbane 2018. The LNP will back down.

Given that the two major Queensland conservative parties captured over 60% of the primary vote between them, I doubt that Campbell Newman will loose the next election, or the one after. The 2012 Election showed just how conservative Queensland can be. I think it was one of the biggest landslides in Australian electoral history.

Edited by runningrings
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Oh i know. He will win which sucks alot. My mother lost her job because of him. Not happy with him at all. Yeah it was a landslide

I'm sorry to hear that. Many people lost their jobs. Many who probably voted for him and forgot the outcomes of voting in a party like the LNP in such a vast majority. No party, left or right, should hold that much power. It's simply not good for democracy.

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I'm sorry to hear that. Many people lost their jobs. Many who probably voted for him and forgot the outcomes of voting in a party like the LNP in such a vast majority. No party, left or right, should hold that much power. It's simply not good for democracy.

Yep. My mum's family who are liberal even regret it. My auntie went about 4 months not knowing if she would lose her job after working in the public service for 27 years. She was distraught and depressed took a deep toll. Agree with the majority. We needed change but not that much!

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Not likely, as much as Qld. Premier Campbell Newman wishes it was.

Gold Coast and Brisbane are close, but ultimately two separate cities 90 minutes drive apart. It would be like having a Hamilton Commonwealth Games half staged in Toronto.

Interesting. In 2014 York Region was a Canadian candidate and proposed half the events in Toronto.

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  • 2 weeks later...

At last, some more re-assuring news:

Coast to host Pan Pacs swimming in 2014

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The city will host the 2014 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships after the State Government and the city council reached an agreement to spilt the $41 million cost to redevelop the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre.

After months of heated negotiations and speculation over the championship's venue, the two levels of governments will announce the partnership today.

The last time Queensland hosted the world-renowned event was in 1987, in Brisbane.

The redevelopment will be completed in time for the Commonwealth Games, dousing speculation the swimming events might be held in Brisbane.

The Bulletin understands the Gold Coast City Council will hand over the first funding instalment before the State Government matches it.

It will see the pool more than double its capacity from 170,000 visits to 400,000 a year.

The project will include a new 10-lane, 50m competition pool, new learn-to-swim pool, elevated spectator concourse-viewing terrace, new change rooms, gym and toilet facilities, community meeting rooms, event facilities, permanent seating for 1000 people and refurbishment of the existing eight-lane, 50m pool and dive pool.

It is understood Commonwealth Games Minister Jann Stuckey had "lengthy and heated discussions" with the Treasurer's department to plead the case for the Gold Coast.

Mayor Tom Tate and senior council staff have also been lobbying the State Government to upgrade the pool in time for the Pan Pacs.

"This is a wonderful win for the Gold Coast and demonstrates how the Newman Government and Gold Coast City Council are working together to deliver this upgrade ahead of schedule," Ms Stuckey said last night.

"The 2014 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships will provide a great opportunity to showcase the Gold Coast, as well as bringing significant economic benefit to the city and the state.

"It has been more than 25 years since the Pan Pacs were held in Queensland and, thanks to this bipartisan collaboration, we will have the opportunity to highlight our expertise in hosting world-class sporting events ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth Games."

Cr Tate said today's announcement would bring confidence to Gold Coasters that the 2018 Commonwealth Games would deliver "significant legacy infrastructure" for the city. The project would deliver 350 jobs, he said.

"Moving the project forward for the Pan Pacs will also ensure we have world-class training facilities available for our elite swimming and diving squads for their preparations ahead of the 2016 Brazil Olympics and the 2018 Games," he said.

"It also means the new facilities will be reopened to our community much sooner than originally scheduled."

The mayor rejected suggestions the council would impose a special levy on ratepayers to pay for Games infrastructure including the pool.

Ms Stuckey said the pool's design would be modern and suit the Broadwater Parklands.

"In event mode it will be a spectacular centrepiece with a breathtaking backdrop," the minister said.

The State Government called for registrations of interest late last month from 26 contractors to undertake the redevelopment work.

A shortlist of builders will be invited to tender for the project and public consultation will take place in coming months.

Construction is likely to start in February 2013 and take around 16 months. The new Gold Coast Aquatic Centre will open to the community in Spring 2014 following the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships.

Gold Coast Bulletin

Edited by Sir Rols
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Bot sure if this is the way to finance a games. About time the Feds coughed up some dosh (though it's unlikely a labour federal government would ever give such cash to an LNP state govt):

Asset sell-off to pay for Comm Games

GOLD Coast Mayor Tom Tate seems to be taking his promise to "sell the city" literally, revealing he is prepared to offload council-owned assets to pay for the Commonwealth Games.

Cr Tate said selling off council land would relieve the burden on ratepayers for the 2018 event, but councillors have warned him to forget about parks and sporting fields.

The site once earmarked for the council headquarters at Robina is the only parcel of land Cr Tate has specified so far.

A spokeswoman for the mayor said "commercially viable land" would be targeted as part of the sale, moreso than parks, sporting fields or open space.

"We'll work through the portfolio of land to determine if there's anything appropriate to dispose of," she said.

"We will focus on commercially viable land on the council's books, not open spaces or community land at this stage."

She said examples of commercially viable land included the Robina block in Robina Town Centre Drive, or former council depots in Southport.

"There's no specifics at this point, other than Robina," she said.

"It's not happening today or next week but sometime in the next three to five years."

The spokeswoman said the asset sale was an option so ratepayers would not be hit hard by the cost of the Games.

"We have to make sure we balance the needs of the community against the opportunities that the Commonwealth Games present."

The State Government has forecast a $1.1 billion cost with the previous council flagging its contribution could be more than $200 million.

Councillors say the cost is now expected to be much less than that but will not specify further.

Robina councillor Jan Grew said she had heard nothing about the sales. "I don't know what he's talking about; I've been given no information about selling Robina land or anything else," she said.

"I would be very disappointed if anyone was talking about selling off Robina land."

Surfers Paradise councillor Lex Bell said he supported the council selling off some land but was strongly opposed to touching parks.

"We wouldn't wish to sell any major parks. We couldn't sell off sporting fields," he said.

Deputy Mayor Donna Gates said selling land surplus to the city's need was preferable to taking out loans to pay for the Games.

She said the mayor had requested a report on all land the city did not need. "Once that information is available we, as a council, can make a determination," Cr Gates said.

Gold Coast Bulletin

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New giant roo beats council restriction

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The replica

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The original

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The new

A GIANT replica of the 1982 Commonwealth Games kangaroo mascot, Matilda, has been erected at Tugun in an audacious bid to see the smiling roo return as an icon when the Gold Coast hosts the 2018 event.

The 9m-high fibreglass replica -- complete with curling eyelashes and a wink if you're lucky -- was erected at the Matilda Fuel Station on the Gold Coast Highway, one of the main gateways to the city.

Currumbin businessman John Neumann, a director of Matilda Fuel Supplies, said he had initially hoped to erect the original Matilda which the company purchased off Wet'n'Wild some years ago.

"It just seemed so fitting in that we have the Australian rights to the name Matilda," Mr Neumann said.

"This site is really suited to it and then with the fact the Gold Coast council was chasing the Commonwealth Games at that time we thought it was a great idea to bring it here."

But at 13.5m tall, the original Matilda was deemed too high for the site and rejected by council.

It has since been erected at a Matilda fuel stop at Gympie.

"It's a real shame we couldn't have the original one here," Mr Neumann said.

"We tried and had written approval but a month later council rescinded it because it failed the 10m mark but we decided to go ahead and make another one anyway."

The new mascot, a shorter replica of the original minus the joey's pouch, was trucked down from Brisbane and erected at the Tugun site yesterday.

"There won't be any financial gain for the Gold Coast but it will just be nice to have it here," said general manager Garth Anderson.

"I think it would be a good idea of the 2018 Games to have it has a mascot.

"It brings back a lot of nostalgia for the 1982 Games, they were a big thing for Australia, it still pulls a lot of heart strings and fond memories for a lot of people. For a lot of Australians it was our coming of age on the world stage.

"What better mascot could you have for Australia?"

Gold Coast City Councillor Chris Robbins said the original application had not complied with council's advertising criteria and she had also held fears for drivers passing the giant roo.

"I had concerns about the previous one because it had moving parts and that is a very busy intersection and I thought it would be a bit of a distraction for motorists," Cr Robbins said.

"But I will have to have a look at it to see if I like it or not."

Gold Coast Bulletin

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Gold Coast 2018 will not move to Brisbane promise Australian officials

November 20 - Australia's Minister for the Commonwealth Games Jann Stuckey (pictured right) and Gold Coast 2018 chairman Nigel Chamier (left) have issued reassurances that the competition will not be moved to Brisbane.

It is a direct response to the latest media reports in Australia that claimed the Gold Coast will be unable to stage the 2018 Commonwealth Games unless the majority of sporting events are moved to the nearby Brisbane.

"In recent days there has been speculation in the media with no factual foundation about the location of venues," said the statement.

"The Organising Committee and the State Government have been getting on with the job of planning and organising the Games and everything is going to plan.

"In fact, we are well ahead in many areas compared to other hosts at the same time.

"Let us be very clear.

"Management is not investigating any change of cities for one or more venues; the Sport and Technical Sub-Committee of the Board is not considering any such changes and the Board has had nothing on its agenda for consideration and nothing is scheduled.

"Likewise, there have been no discussions about relocating venues to different cities with either the Australian Commonwealth Games Association (ACGA) or the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).

"The commitments made during the bidding period and contained in the Candidate City File (CCF) stand.

"The file is a legally binding contract signed by the CGF, the Queensland Government, the ACGA and the Gold Coast City Council.

"No changes to the plan can be made without consideration by the ACGA and the CGF."

The Commonwealth Games Minister and Gold Coast 2018 chairman have also made it clear that they have very clear from the start of the bid process about what events will be staged in Brisbane.

"In relation to sports being conducted in Brisbane, it has always been the case that two events will be conducted in the Brisbane Local Government area," said the statement.

"This was outlined in the CCF which was released publically on 11 May 2011.

"In relation to shooting, the former Gold Coast City Council endorsed the use of Belmont Shooting Centre [in Brisbane] given its capacity to host multiple shooting disciplines.

"This represented significant financial savings rather than develop shooting facilities on the Gold Coast.

"In relation to cycling and a velodrome, the Government examined the history of the financial viability of such facilities around Australia.

"It was found that a velodrome on the Gold Coast would have had significant on-going operational costs for the Gold Coast City Council.

"It was therefore agreed by all parties that a velodrome at Chandler in Brisbane as part of a State cycling centre as advocated by Australian and Queensland Cycling would be the most cost effective option.

"In relation to basketball and gymnastics, the former Council was asked whether the Gold Coast needed another sport and entertainment centre [8,000 to 10,000 seat capacity] which could be used to host Commonwealth Games gymnastics and the basketball.

"The Council undertook a study and informed the bid company that no such facility was needed and signed off on the final facility plan that saw gymnastics in a relocatable facility on the Gold Coast and basketball preliminary rounds being conducted in Townsville and Cairns."

Stuckey and Chamier have also claimed that the Gold Coast will receive a huge boost from the staging of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

"The 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast will be three times the size of the 1982 Games in Brisbane," they said.

"Just as Brisbane received a significant boost from hosting the Games 30 years ago – the Gold Coast will benefit in a similar way.

"The Government and Organising Committee are focussed on delivering a great Games, in a great city leaving great memories and great benefits for all."

The CGF have also confirmed to insidethegames that there are no plans to move any scheduled Commonwealth Games events from the Gold Coast.

Insidethegames

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"It brings back a lot of nostalgia for the 1982 Games, they were a big thing for Australia, it still pulls a lot of heart strings and fond memories for a lot of people. For a lot of Australians it was our coming of age on the world stage.

]

lol, come again? Move over Melbourne 1956 and Sydney 2000...

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I don't understand why they would bid in the first place if they had the idea of moving it to Brisbane. I just don't see it happening.

It was a different government that bid, and the new Govt is trying to look tough on "cutting spending".

It won't go to Brisbane.

lol, come again? Move over Melbourne 1956 and Sydney 2000...

You know Queenslanders - banana-benders first, Aussies second.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hmmm, it looks more and more like dispite the disbelief at the time - Auckland had the right and responsible idea in deciding against going for these Games.

Not really, Auckland was a totally different situation...at the time the Government was in a fiscal quandry and was more focussed on that rollicking great rugby tournament. Also Auckland wasn't really prepared for hosting.

Interesting that Queensland politics simply do not reflect the image of the state the we see on the tourist brochures...And the fact that New Zealanders are clearly NOT welcome to live there.

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