BIG SHOW MUST GO ON
Drawcard attractions such as the Gold Coast Show shouldn’t be forgotten in the Games wash-up
DO you remember going to the Gold Coast Show at Parklands when it was booming? Or the Big Day Out when it was a blast throughout Southport?
There is a legacy project to be built here beyond the Games village.
Back in the 1970s, the Gold Coast Harness Racing Club owned its own site freehold in Queens Street at Southport. It was valued at $5 million.
The State Government wanted the land for a school, the club was paid compensation and the money went into a new fund for the Parklands facility.
The club was given tenure on the site for 40 years, from 1990 to 2030. But documents for the deal showed that in reality they should be there forever.
Then for club members, a feeling in the pit of your stomach like a chairlift ride dropping from its summit. The Government in 2013 reneges on the agreement.
Parklands is closed, facilities funded by charity groups demolished and replaced by what stakeholders regard as a highrise housing estate needed for two weeks during Commonwealth Games in April next year.
The next part of the story is like watching the dodgem cars.
The Parklands Trust pay $5 million to Treasury. Club officials struggle to get the funds released. The Greyhound Club, also ejected, seeks $10 million in compensation.
Court action for compensation follows and private meetings with Racing Queensland and Government ministers. A deadline for a new Coast harness racing facility by February 2016 passes by.
Everyone crash banging and going around in circles. Meanwhile, the Gold Coast Show starts fading into the sunset at a smaller site at the Gold Coast Turf Club at Bundall.
Your columnist has obtained the list of organisations which used Parklands in 2013. More than 418,000 visitors attended 158 functions. Many are charities. They are now without a venue.
Do you remember going to the Gold Coast Car Show, a Good Vibrations concert, getting some cheap reads at the Lifeline Bookfest or joining your Kiwi mates at Waitangi Day?
An email trail reveals that four months after the February 2016 deadline an important private meeting was held with Minister Grace Grace.
Those attending were told Racing Queensland had a budget of $91 million and “every code claims they are under supported”. Still the feeling among stakeholders was positive.
The Government favoured greyhounds co-locating with harness racing and $10 million was still in the kitty for the Coast.
All the major Parklands tenants recently teamed up, private meetings are being held with major tourism operators and planning continuing with the powerful council major projects directorate.
At least 11 sites are being discussed as a location for a new home to be called Parklands 2. On election eve, this is the right time for pollies to commit to get this legacy show up and running. ONE Nation may do much better in Broadwater than the polling in other Coast seats suggests where support for Pauline Hanson’s party was tracking around 15 per cent.
Broadwater candidate Brenden Ball has as many volunteers at the pre-poll as the LNP’s David Crisafulli and estimates both of them on a daily basis are receiving an equal split of the vote.