Coast venues taking shape Huge progess in year since Glasgow games OUR MISSION

THIS time last year the eyes of the world were focused on Glasgow, as the 2014 Commonwealth Games rolled out in spectacular fashion.

And among the millionplus spectators in the stands were Gold Coast organisers, who were counting down to the moment when the baton was handed over after the closing ceremony.

Since then, planning has hit the construction phase, with two new stadiums coming out of the ground in the past few months – one at Carrara and the other at Coomera.

Games Minister Kate Jones said attention was now “well and truly on the Gold Coast” – a year on from Glasgow.

“It’s an exciting time to be on the Gold Coast with venues construction under way, planning progressing, and more op- The Bulletin’s Game Changer campaign aims to deliver the right infrastructure, services and attitude required to host the best Commonwealth Games in history in 2018

portunities opening up for locals to get involved in the Games,” she said.

The next project to take shape will be the athletes’ village at Parklands, which building giant Grocon is taking the lead on after a deal was hatched under the former LNP government to deliver the project at no cost to the taxpayer.

It will be home to 6500 athletes and officials during the Games and create 1500 jobs during construction.

Grocon national executive design manager David Waldren yesterday explained that the company would own the almost 1300 apartments after the complex had been used as the athletes village – becoming one of the country’s biggest private landlords.

At this point the company has no plans to put any of the units on the market until 2023 and the whole development will not be sold until 2028. “We will be making them available for rent,” Mr Waldren said.

Mr Waldren said the aim was to create a village that would have a place long after the Games was over.

Work is due to start on the athletes’ village in September.

Mr Waldren said the eastern side of the 7ha development, which included 30 buildings, was the first priority.

Another 7ha of parkland has been factored into the plan, which will include surrounding developments when the Health and Knowledge precinct is developed.