HOW THE GAMES WILL AFFECT YOU
ROAD CLOSURES BEST TRAFFIC TIMES GIGS IN YOUR AREA
CARRARA and Nerang are right in the thick of it when it comes to the fast-approaching Commonwealth Games.
Several Carrara streets will be shut off during the 12-day event, forcing businesses and locals to change their usual routines.
Speaking to traders and residents in the area, some were excited, while others were so worried they had plans to leave the country.
Tony Ahad, from Goodfellaz Barber Shop at Benowa Village, said his customers were extremely concerned about the impact the Games would have on their lives.
“I am excited for it and we have been warned ahead of time to plan, so people need to suck it up, man,” he said.
“A lot of effort has gone into it, so it’s unfortunate there seems to be a lot of negativity surrounding it.”
Local Rob McAnuity, who lives behind Metricon Stadium, said he was leaving the country to escape the chaos.
“We are going to New Zealand and then Fiji for 10 days, because it will be too difficult getting in and out of our house, everything will be blocked off,” he said.
“If we were to stay, we might be trapped in our house for the whole 12 days.
“As much as it is an inconvenience at the time, it has already helped local infrastructure and will be a big benefit to the city.”
Tenants from the Nerang Mall are also suffering an inconvenience with some retailers being told to expect their stock deliveries to come between midnight and 6am instead of the usual 11am delivery time.
Brendan and Allison Zammit, who have owned Zammos Fruit and Veg for the past three years, said they might as well set up a bed in their store as they’d be staying there all night to be able to sign for their stock deliveries.
“The seafood shop, the bakery, all of us have been notified our deliveries will be off schedule,” said Mr Zammit.
“Hopefully it will benefit our business with more customers, but it’s just an inconvenience that I just have to sit here and wait for it (stock delivery) in the middle of the night.”
Carrara stay-at-home mum Jaime Whitley said it would be difficult for her to drive anywhere during the Commonwealth Games as roads surrounding her house would be closed off.
“I have kids, so I can’t exactly ride them round on a push bike,” she said.
“My husband works in Brisbane and needs to be in the office. He can’t very well work from home when he has staff to manage.
“We will just lose time having to take longer to get anywhere with the traffic and detours.”
Rona Long, who has worked at the Allure Nail studio at Benowa Village since it opened two years ago, said a lot of their customers had expressed how hard it would be to visit the centre during the Games.
“It will affect us a lot I think,” she said.
Jaime Whitley
Carrara stayat-home mum “I have kids so I can’t exactly ride them round on a push bike. I’ve no choice but to use my car.”
Sandra Perkins
Rockmans Nerang “Most of our staff will walk to work to avoid the road closures and traffic issues altogether.”
Geoff Osborne
Nerang local
“I’m not too worried. I’ll just have to leave earlier (for work at Varsity Lakes).”