I was surprised by Monday’s front page; a proposed stadium for Victoria Park and financial support to build it promised by Pauline Hanson. I thought in the lead up to the yet to be announced federal election in regards to stadiums I would read a commitment from the Labor candidate to a Browne Park located stadium.
Is a stadium going to be that big-ticket item that determines the final election result, like supposedly the now open Base Hospital Car park was? Or will promises for an also needed convention centre (for Yeppoon or Rockhampton), or flood proofing the airport prove to be the wild card? And has a promise been made for the new Rockhampton Art Gallery, I can’t recall. What will that one big ticket item be that could affect people’s intention to vote and win one candidate the marginal seat of Capricornia?
The game-changer promise has, I believe, got to be more exciting than a by-pass road, (even though that will require a bigger commitment and more workers than a stadium), more regionally appealing than a Depot Hill flood levee bank (especially if you are in areas of the electorate affected by drought), and something that will seize the media’s, then public’s, on-going attention, but not like a nuclear power station would (even though there could be merit with such a proposal on environmental grounds).
Is a sports stadium the Game Changer (for the candidate and the electorate)? In a few months time we’ll know the one for the candidate. To help the other candidates in the meantime determine their game changer project to champion, let’s consider what a game changer for the people of Capricornia should achieve.
Build a stadium (or 2) and we should attract more big-name acts, be they sporting teams or entertainers. Game Changer for Capricornia! Convention Centre should attract more events and visitors to the venue. Game Changer!
Yes, both projects are needed, will create more hospitality jobs, increase spending in the region and be an overdue improvement on what currently exists. But will they (even if both were built) markedly change and improve the economic, environmental and social well-being of the region and people in it? For example, will it slow the talent drain of youth leaving Capricornia to pursue their dreams elsewhere? Conversely, will it attract talent to live and invest in the region? Will Capricornia be thrust on the national and perhaps international spotlight for its innovative advancements, be it in technology or social well-being? Will it generate a contagious ‘can-do’ energy in the communities that make up Capricornia?
Find a project that does this and then I feel you’ve got a real game changer for Capricornia. Otherwise I think the promise (and delivery) of a stadium or a convention centre, art gallery, etc., is only really playing overdue catch-up. Being a marginal seat shouldn’t we be demanding more than just catching-up!