Games to drive out car culture

THE head of a Gold Coast attraction is dubbing the Commonwealth Games the “Public Transport Games”, saying it will force locals to embrace riding trams, buses and rail.

National Trust of Australia CEO Jonathan Fisher, whose company’s portfolio includes Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, said many will have to use the city buses, trams and trains out of necessity during the Games fortnight in April.

At a Get Set for Games breakfast yesterday at The Star Gold Coast he said the wildlife sanctuary’s staff would be in that category, joking: “It is not easy for a lot of our staff to work from home – they can’t take the animals with them.”

For two days of the Games when cycling races go past the site, its entire carpark will be blocked off and unusable.

“It is going to be the Public Transport Games. You will have to make sure you know how to use that public transport,” Mr Fisher said.

“And I think a lot of people will learn it is a better way to get to work on any day, let alone Games day.

“If we can get people embracing public transport it will be a great legacy.”

Games organising committee (GOLDOC) CEO Mark Peters said with population forecasts tipped to soar from 600,000 to 1.2 million by 2050, there would be few alternatives than to get used to public transport: “The Games period may well change the travel patterns of people which will be a major long-term legacy.”

At the breakfast, The Star Entertainment Group general manager marketing Queensland Simon Proctor said the Games was going to be a great opportunity to showcase the Broadbeach complex’s ongoing transformation to not just visitors but locals too.

The Star had also decided very early on to move to “overnight deliveries” throughout the Games fortnight.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate told the 500 city employers and managers to cut staff slack during Games disruption.

“I know you are the boss. (But) I say cut a bit of slack to staff, embrace them coming to

A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL LEARN PUBLIC TRANSPORT IS A BETTER WAY TO GET TO WORK ANY DAY, LET ALONE GAMES DAY. JONATHAN FISHER

work, but acknowledge they need to be flexible,” he said.

Get Set for Games Travel Demand Management technical director Rose McArthur urged firms to test Games plans for getting staff and stock in and out prior to the start on April 4 when it kicks off with the triathlon on day one.

“My rally cry for you all ... we have six weeks to go and if you are thinking ‘Oh my word, I haven’t thought about this or that, talked to customers or suppliers’, it’s not too late.

“It’s not too late to make sure you make the most out of these Games as the opportunities are absolutely enormous.”