QUEST FOR PARKLANDS

IN a breathtaking sleight of hand, the Newman government put paid to old ideas of give and take when it reneged in 2013 on agreements with sports and community organisations and closed down Parklands.

On the one hand, the Gold Coast gained through the construction of the Athletes Village for the Commonwealth Games and the extension of the health and knowledge precinct. But the harness and greyhound racing clubs were left without infrastructure critical to their existence, facilities funded by community and charity groups were bulldozed and the Gold Coast Show, still a vital but wounded part of the city’s social fabric in this, its 111th year, has been left in decline, shunted from pillar to post.

Right now, its future is anything but assured as the show society soldiers on, forced to run this year’s event at two sites as it tries to bring back attractions such as the equestrian events.

Back in 2013, more than 418,000 people attended 158 functions at the old Parklands. Remember the Big Day Out, the car show, book festivals and Waitangi Day? Parklands was home to many major events.

Yet still the Gold Coast waits for a State Government to ride to the rescue and honour old agreements, which guaranteed a home for bodies like the racing clubs and the show society. It’s time some honour returned to the equation.

Our report today of a huge multipurpose facility that could be developed at Mudgeeraba offers hope to the clubs and show society. If it gets off the ground, it would also cater for polocrosse, indoor sports and music festivals. Such a project, including land acquisition, is estimated to cost about $24.5 million. It is early days and many questions must be answered, including issues like potential for flooding and how this would be overcome.

But the cost of losing Parklands and all the facilities it once offered, including the social benefits that flowed, has been enormous. Its demise has left a gaping hole in the city that must be plugged.