The team at PlantMiner were at the Queensland Media Club event on Friday where, Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Chairman and former Queensland Premier, Peter Beattie estimated the games could deliver double the official estimate of $2 billion worth of economic activity. 

The Queensland Media Club is sponsored by the Civil Contractors Federation (CCF) QLD and was where Mr Beattie, the event chairman, said the games could rake in between $3 billion and $4 billion. Mr Beattie was feeling more optimistic about the Australian and world economies because of movement in the coal price.

“My humble view is that’s a very modest figure” he said.

The government is starting to do some evaluation now on what that figure will be.

Mr Beattie said the Games would cost about $2 billion to run, with ticket sales to recoup about $500 million - leaving a net cost of $1.5 billion.

Mr Beattie also said that they would be releasing the transport strategy in late November. We've already seen infrastructure like the heavy rail duplication and the light rail extension and we will see a lot more over the next 18 months.

Venue construction overview

In preparation for GC2018 the Queensland Government will deliver three new sporting venues and one multi-purpose venue as well as undertaking major upgrades to a further venues.

The following venues are estimated to be delivered in the next 6-12 months:

• Carrara Sport and Leisure Centre (construction underway)  - late 2016
• Coomera Indoor Sports Centre - completed 2016
• Queensland State Velodrome (construction underway) - mid 2016
• Super Stage at Oxenford Studios (construction underway) - Completed 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

To learn more about the capital program for the development and construction of GC2018 venues visit https://www.dtesb.qld.gov.au/commonwealth-games 

Header Image Source: Embracing 2018 XXI Commonwealth Games
Source: Queensland Government