REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Saturday, August 7, 2004

CITY councillors reconfirmed their $6 million commitment to a Gold Coast national rugby league team.

Councillors discussed the funding to upgrade the Carrara stadium during a closed-session council meeting. They had been asked by the Gold Coast Dolphins to reconfirm their support ahead of an August 16 meeting with the NRL.

And despite his comments that he believed the stadium upgrade should be privately funded, Mayor Ron Clarke voted for the $6 million to stay in the council’s budget.

”I supported it, I always have,’’ said Mr Clarke.

”It’s a commitment that council has made subject to State Government and Federal Government support.

”It’s the resolution that the Bid Team has been working towards.

”I have always advised the Bid Team that I thought we should have a national team.

”I would like it to be privately funded but the resolution (for $6 million) has already been passed by the previous council and I’m not going to renege on that.’’

Mr Clarke said he had held discussions with AFL interests as a “back-up” option to the NRL plan.

In the closed-session meeting, it is understood he told the council that the AFL was “well-heeled” and had the funds to proceed without relying on council funding.

Gold Coast Dolphins director Michael Searle said that, if the city were awarded a national league team, then the council’s money would be used.

”What we asked for today was a confirmation that the funds could be used to extend the eastern stands,’’ he said.