BEATTIE THE MAN TO RAISE OUR BABY

THE Commonwealth Games is this city’s golden baby. We are in our third trimester of its birth. Some of us are quietly asking “what legacy, this child” for the Gold Coast.

At the council this week inside the Evandale chamber you could hear the bureaucrats on their mobile telephones approving road closures for the sporting events. The carpark outside was full.

At the arts centre a major Games briefing had begun. You probably know someone involved. You will sense in them that mild panic of making final plans before baby is born.

All of this brings your columnist to GOLDOC chairman Peter Beattie who had an extended chat after the contractual dispute with the meter maids, where he explained why the Coast has to get the Games legacy right.

Whatever your politics, put them aside, because there are three important truths about the former Labor premier.

When the Gold Coast University Hospital was finally opened, health chiefs could not believe a politician had delivered on a big promise. Just ask Ian Langdon from their board.

Mr Beattie would holiday annually at Currumbin with his family. His passion here is the medical sciences, expanding the employment base from the rollercoaster tourism and construction industries.

As GOLDOC chair, they lean a bit on his generosity.

He always fronts the tough press conferences, is diplomatic when thrown curve balls and asked whether the Games will stop funeral processions or why Borobi needs two carers.

Is there any grandfather around who can launch a stronger argument about the Games being a launching pad for the region’s education and health industries?

We know that business polls show 44 per cent of private industry operators are “very confident” of the benefits of the event in the 12 months after April next year.

We know that the Commonwealth Games Village, despite all the payment problems to subbies, will provide this city with 1252 extra residences.

We know about 47,000 volunteers will be upskilled, that they can catch the tram on the new line from Helensvale to Parklands or drive on the upgraded Bundall Rd to the Carrara venue. But like most expectant parents, we don’t know much about how to raise this baby after a two-week party to celebrate its birth.

We could let Grandfather Beattie just sit on an old chair by the pool at the aquatic centre, as the celebrations rage and everyone congratulates each other.

Or we could say to Pop Peter, forget about your role on the ARL Commission.

We could say Pop Beattie, why don’t you form a working group, help raise this child of ours, help a teenager one day have a career right here on the Gold Coast.