Spending money on temporary venues should only be considered if there was “value in promoting iconic landmarks on the world stage”, Tate said, such as when beach volleyball was held beneath the Eiffel Tower at last year’s Paris Olympics.
Tate said funds spent on temporary pool foundations would be “absolutely lost” if swimming went ahead at the proposed Brisbane Arena, which has been slated for the north-west corner of the Roma Street Parklands.
Mayor Tom Tate says his council would be willing to jointly fund permanent venues on the Gold Coast.Credit: Paul Harris
Billionaire Gina Rinehart, a long-term patron of Swimming Australia, has backed Tate’s call.
“Mrs Rinehart has been known to publicly support the Mayor of the Gold Coast’s call for upgrading the Gold Coast pool venue that hosted the Commonwealth Games, which could then better service the swimmers for many years to come, rather than a temporary pool,” a spokesman for Rinehart said.
A 2600-capacity satellite athletes’ village earmarked for Robina should also be scrapped, Tate said, in favour of using the Gold Coast’s ample hotel supply.
“We’ve got 40,000 room nights here, as well as another five five-star hotels – resort style – being built,” he said.
Gold Coast council has proposed moving rowing events from Lake Wyaralong (above) to Hinze Dam.Credit: Peter Bowring – Google Maps
“RACV Royal Pines is doubling its size, so you can take over the whole resort, and that’s just the start.”
The Gold Coast athletes’ village was planned to provide 500 permanent post-Games dwellings for residents.
Also included in the Gold Coast’s submission to the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority was a proposal to move rowing events from Lake Wyaralong in the Scenic Rim to Hinze Dam.
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Tate said he would also back the Gold Coast Turf Club’s push to beat out Toowoomba and the RNA Showgrounds to host equestrian events.
Tate said the savings would enable Brisbane to “quite comfortably spend the money on a proper Olympic Stadium wherever they wish” – and he had an idea in mind.
“Let me throw a spanner into the works – look at Boondall,” he said, although a spokesman later clarified that the mayor misspoke and meant to say Doomben Racecourse.
“They can do a fresh track, you can have helicopter pads, Uber Air, and it’s got good transport infrastructure there.”
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