Stadium site at Nerang in play
14Jun05
The city council is investigating yet another stadium site, this time just a stone's throw from Carrara's white elephant.
Mayor Ron Clarke has confirmed that a vacant block of land at Nerang is the latest of six contenders to house a new rugby league stadium.
It is understood the land is just a few kilometres from the antiquated Carrara stadium, also being considered as a home for the Gold Coast's NRL team.
Cr Clarke refused to divulge the land's location, except to say it was near the Nerang train station.
"We are duty bound to investigate all options," he said.
"The area of Robina, Nerang and Carrara are by far the best ones."
He said the Nerang land met the important criteria of being close to public transport.
"That could be a reasonable site; at this stage we're not getting too excited though," said Cr Clarke. "We are still trading on Robina."
Cr Clarke inspected potential sites with his assistant, former mayor Ray Stevens, last week.
However, council insiders said there were concerns the site at Nerang did not offer enough flood-free land.
Cr Clarke insisted the Nerang site, which emerged as an option last week, would not delay a council decision on where to put a stadium.
The council has been under sustained criticism over its land negotiations, with sporting and business leaders concerned it was dragging its heels on the issue.
Despite the storm of protest, councillors will not make a decision on where to house the stadium until July 18, after the council's two-week, mid-year recess.
Cr Clarke has previously claimed that will allow plenty of time for the Queensland Government to build a stadium.
State Treasurer Terry Mackenroth has already offered to build and run a 25,000-seat stadium, provided the council coughs up the land.
Although the Gold Coast team would debut at the Gold Coast Stadium at Carrara in 2007, it would ideally kick off in a new stadium in 2008.
Chief executive officer Dale Dickson said the council was now looking at six sites: at Nerang, Carrara, Coomera, Reedy Creek and two sites at Robina.
"The council decision was to look at all possible sites," said Mr Dickson.
"Obviously some have stronger merits than others on face value, but we haven't automatically discounted them. However, the sooner we get down to a limited number of sites, the better."
The council has already entered into negotiations with Robina Land Corporation, the owner of a prime par-cel of land next to Robina train station and the preferred site for a stadium.
Mr Dickson refused to give further information on the locations of other sites due to commercial sensitivities.
"We want to be courteous to the people involved," he said.
GOLD COAST BULLETIN
