Construction on track in race to 2018 Commonwealth Games

Published Monday, 04 April, 2016 at 06:00 AM

Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games
The Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe

With two years to go until the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, the $320 million construction program for competition venues is on track and on budget, with all new and upgraded facilities set to be delivered within the next 12 months.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Minister for the Commonwealth Games Stirling Hinchliffe today revealed more than 4,000 workers had already played a role in the construction of the new and upgraded competition venues and the Games Village.

“Construction on Commonwealth Games venues is supporting jobs on the Gold Coast with more than 4,000 workers already inducted across eight different work sites where work is currently underway,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“This month there will be 860 full-time workers employed across all the venue and village construction sites, supporting strong jobs growth on the Gold Coast with the annual local employment up 5.4 percent on this time last year.

“More than 2,500 full time jobs will be created during design and construction in delivering the sport and community infrastructure for the Games, and thousands of new jobs and opportunities for small businesses are in the pipeline. 

“There are more opportunities ahead for local business with at least 117 sub-contracts still to be awarded to work on the seven venues currently under construction and the Games Village.

“We’re delivering world-class facilities for the Games on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane, including three new multipurpose sporting venues, a 4000m2 soundstage at Village Roadshow that will double as a squash venue at Games-time and major upgrades to a further seven venues.”

Minister for the Commonwealth Games Stirling Hinchliffe said the two-year mark also signalled the start of the 12-month countdown to deliver the new and upgraded competition venues ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

“The two-year mark is an important milestone for the Commonwealth Games, but it also signals the final leg of the race to deliver the venue infrastructure for the Games,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“From today there are only 12 months on the clock to deliver all the new and upgraded venues ahead of the Games.

"All of our sporting venues that are being either developed completely or upgraded for the purposes of hosting the Commonwealth Games, will be in place and able to host test events 12 months before the Games commence."

Mr Hinchliffe said Gold Coast and Queensland businesses were benefiting from the construction opportunities around the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

“When it comes to the medal tally for procurement, Gold Coast and Queensland businesses are performing strongly,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“To date, of the $404 million in construction contracts awarded for the venues and village projects, $366 million have been awarded to Queensland companies and of this, $184 million have been awarded to Gold Coast contractors and $182 million to South East Queensland businesses.

“This means more than 90 percent of all construction contracts so far have been awarded to businesses either on the Gold Coast or in the South East corner.

“And South East Queensland businesses have secured 83 of the 85 contracts awarded to date for the Commonwealth Games Village Parklands Project.”

Mr Hinchliffe said there will be more opportunities for small businesses coming in the pipeline with demand growing for a whole range of services including catering, security and cleaning.

Of the 1,927 contracts and sponsorships awarded by GOLDOC since 2013-14, 1,724, or 89 percent, have been awarded to Gold Coast or Queensland businesses, which is great news for small businesses across Queensland.

“The Games will inject $2 billion into the economy, which is why the Palaszczuk Government is focused on making sure local businesses are Games-ready, just like our athletes will be ready for the sporting competition,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“My message to small business going forward is make sure you register on the Business and Industry Portal because you’ve got to be in it to win it.

“For businesses interested in finding more information about opportunities around the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, the website ICN Gateway has information about registering a business and available work packages, and can help connect suppliers to potential buyers and partners.

“I’m pleased to see local businesses have responded strongly to date, with 3,038 businesses having registered 19,238 expressions of interest in Commonwealth Games work packages.”

The following competition venues are on track to be delivered in the next 12 months, delivering a legacy of permanent works:

  • Carrara Sport and Leisure Centre (construction underway)         late-2016
  • Coomera Indoor Sports Centre (construction underway)            mid-2016
  • Queensland State Velodrome (construction underway)               mid-2016
  • Super Stage at Oxenford Studios (construction underway)         mid-2016
  • Carrara Stadium                                                                 early-2017
  • Carrara Indoor Stadium                                                       early-2017
  • Gold Coast Aquatic Centre (complete)                                    completed-2014
  • Gold Coast Hockey Centre (construction underway)                  early-2017
  • Nerang Mountain Bike Trails (construction underway)                late-2016
  • Broadbeach Bowls Club (construction underway)                      mid-2016
  • Belmont Shooting Centre                                                     early-2017

The Queensland Government has contributed $164 million and the Australian Government has committed $156 million towards the $320 million venue construction program for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

 

Media contact: Jessica Hill 0475 950 772 (Hinchliffe)