Staying ahead of game
Coast officials look to cater for region’s growth
GOLD Coast District Rugby Union directors have begun making long-term moves to safeguard the sport’s future in the region for the next 20 years.
GCDRU chairman Kim Bending met town planning consultants Urbis last week in an attempt to stay ahead of the game when it comes to catering for the city’s rugby players in the form of fields and lighting.
“It’s 60 years since the Gold Coast has been called Gold Coast,” Bending said.
“We used to be known as South Coast and since those days, when rugby first started in this area, the expansion has been incredible.
“But having said that, all the infrastructure – the M1 as an example – hasn’t kept up with that population growth.
“One of the real issues which we have identified going forward is if we continue participation growth in our sport to stay in line with our population growth, we have to have the right infrastructure and strategy to cope with all that.
“We’re identifying where the growth is and we’re looking at now to 20 years’ time where proposed shopping centres, schools and job hubs are being created.
“It means we won’t have to rush saying at the last minute, well we need another ground say, for argument’s sake, at Nerang. That would probably take a couple of years to get so with this planning everything will be done in advance.
“It’s the most significant part of securing a rugby future here on the Gold Coast.”
GCDRU have already made moves to cater for growth in the city’s northwestern corridor, with plans to establish a club at Yarrabilba in motion.
Bending noted that club presidents from around the Coast have been asked for their input on where they will believe future growth will come from, with those suggestions alongside the Urbis data to be discussed by various stakeholders and formalised into a final plan by June.