One benefit from writing this column is people willingness to share some of their ideas.
With the news stories of the possible future sale of CQUniversity Canning Street campus it was suggested to me that Rockhampton High School should buy it. Why the school is not growing from what I understand was my reply; no they move there so the current location of the school can be the redeveloped for our stadium!
With the NRL team expansion appearing to be on a continual holding pattern a stadium for Rockhampton seems to be nearly forgotten about. After all without something like our own NRL team attracting regular crowds it would be difficult to justify the cost to build one (though wasn’t a hurdle for Mackay).
Should we still plan to one day eventually build one?
A location was proposed for the stadium and conference centre on the river side of Rockhampton State High School. The land is subject to flooding and car parking would be an issue. Having a stadium relatively close to the central business district and accommodation were viewed though as important reasons for the preferred location; as well as being in a sporting precinct with a river outlook.
Rocky High offers all these benefits and to my knowledge has only minimal flooding concerns.
There would appear merit for the idea.
However without all the ducks lined up in a row would this idea get traction with any level of government, even if Rocky High was to deem the move a sound decision?
It’s an interesting idea though. Being close to the Rockhampton Showgrounds it could help Beef Australia with their growing pains. However it appears without our own NRL team the whole idea is pie in the sky.
Should the Council’s economic growth plan for the region include making approaches to existing NRL Sydney clubs to relocate here? Noting the poor crowd attendance figures just maybe, with persistence and a strong business case, a Sydney based NRL club board could entertain the thought of relocating to the state that attracts the bigger crowds in the interests of their long term survival.
There are a number of economic and liveability benefits from having our own stadium (and NRL team), however it’s not likely we’ll get the federal or state government financial contribution to build one unless we can present a sound business case and it appears having our own NRL team is required for that. Do we therefore get on the front foot and see if we can get a current club to relocate or wait for the NRL to make a decision on expansion and compete against the other bidders. Having more control over the ducks would make lining them up easier.