Closing Stadium

They say first impressions count, closing ones obviously do too. Rather than join the chorus of Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony disappointment I like to remember all the great moments prior to it and wonder what Rockhampton could learn from the Games. It was terrific to have our local lad Mark Knowles lead the Australian team into the stadium; the way he presented himself to the media throughout the Games, then to see the hockey team win the gold medal was absolutely fantastic, well done Mark. This was the first time the Commonwealth Games had been held in an Australian regional centre. Could Rockhampton aspire to one day hold them? Infrastructure would be a major issue, particularly the lack of a stadium. However, we should not dismiss the idea entirely. Who in 1930, when the first version of the Commonwealth Games was held, would dare speculate that one day a seaside village of some 4,000 people would host the Games. Rockhampton back then appeared a more likely chance with a population of around 29,000. With the current discussion about extending Browne Park to a 10,000-seat stadium should we not be thinking bigger. Or a least an option that enables a stadium to become bigger. The CQ NRL bid seems to be swept into a dark corner, still there but out of sight. Part of its proposal was for a 20000-seat stadium to be built at Victoria Park. This location was determined by Populous, an international design company that specialises in stadiums. With a budget of $500,000 I think we can assume they fully investigated all the options and issues before making their recommendation. I understand that the stadium could be built in stages; 10,000 seats initially, a 1,000 seat conference centre in another stage and extending the stadium to 20,000 in a final stage. If the state government was to come up with the money to build a 10,000-seat stadium is this a better option than Browne Park? Easy walk into the CBD, more access to car parking, capacity to double the seating and incorporate a 1,000 seat conference centre. If a 10,000-seat stadium is developed at Browne Park do we lose the chance of ever getting a 20,000-seat stadium? I’m not knocking the Browne Park proposal, it is good that the board is being pro-active in wanting to improve the sporting infrastructure in Rockhampton. I just wonder what we are risking if they are successful and wondering why the Victoria Park option is not been mentioned. If state government money is to be utilised should not the discussion be about what is best for Rockhampton and the region. The same Peter Beattie that had one of those long speeches in the Closing Ceremony also has said the NRL must expand or it will die. He said this in his role as Australian Rugby League Commission chairman. There is still a chance Central Queensland could have its own NRL team. There’s still a chance Rockhampton will have people travelling from Mackay in the north, Emerald in the west and Bundaberg in the south on a regular basis to watch the home games. There’s still a chance that like Townsville this would inject millions into the region’s economy. There’s even a chance with a 20,000-seat stadium we could one day hold a Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony in which the athletes are the stars of the night, as part of a joint CQ bid for the Commonwealth Games.