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[CQItalia]

Catch this Rocky!

Adrian Taylor | 7th March 2012

Tags: anna bligh, cq nrl bid, geoff murphy, queensland election 2012
ANNA Bligh threw Geoff Murphy a killer pass, one which he believes will help the CQ NRL Bid over the line.



Premier Anna Bligh, watched by Rockhampton candidate Bill Byrne and Joelene Callaghan, plays pass and catch with five-year-old Adrian Callaghan during a visit to the city. Ms Bligh says a new Labor administration will pay $500,000 to design a $140 million stadium for Rocky similar to Skilled Park on the Gold Coast.
Chris Ison
Photos


ANNA Bligh threw Geoff Murphy a killer pass yesterday, one which he believes will help the CQ NRL Bid over the line.

Although she is a dedicated Titans fanatic, the Premier made her support for the CQ bid crystal clear by pledging $500,000 to ensure a $140 million, 21,000-seat stadium could be built near Rockhampton Showgrounds in time for the 2015 NRL premiership season.

If Labor wins the state election on March 24 it will fund a preliminary feasibility study by stadium-design experts Populous - the company behind Suncorp Stadium, Skilled Park and the Olympic Stadium in London.

Beaming as if he had just scored the winning try in a grand final, bid chairman Mr Murphy, said the commitment would show the NRL that Central Queensland would be ready to take its rightful place at rugby league's top table.

"If the NRL says yes to our bid, we will be shovel-ready to go," he said.

"I think we could get an indication by the middle of this year and I believe this announcement places us at the head of the queue.

"We will build an academy next to the stadium.

"We are the only bidding group that is being proactive in the community with grass roots programs and the Premier has been 100% behind us from the start.

"This is wonderful news."

Labor has already committed to funding the stadium, should the bid be successful.

Ms Bligh said Populous would prepare architectural studies, urban design work, civil engineering plans, a concept design and three dimensional animations of what the stadium would look like inside and out.

The study will also address parking and road access issues and look at possible ancillary uses for the stadium.

"It will become part of a marvellous sporting precinct that will be the envy of every city in Australia," she said.

The plan is to construct a stadium on state land opposite the CQ NRL Bid headquarters in Lion Creek Rd.

The site is currently used as a sports field by Rockhampton State High School.

Keen rugby league fan and member for Keppel, Paul Hoolihan, praised Mr Murphy's drive and persistence and said locals would be comforted by the commitment.

"The NRL will know how serious we are."



STADIUM FACTS

New pledge of $500,000 to make stadium project shovel-ready.
Plans to be drawn by the company building London's Olympic Stadium.
Location is Rockhampton State High School sports fields.
21,000-seat stadium estimated to cost $140 million.
Bid team expects NRL to announce new franchises this year.

http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/story/2012/03/07/catch-this-rocky/

[CQItalia]

Premier’s Support For Stadium Planning Great News For Cq Nrl Bid

This news item was posted at 12:40 pm on the 7th March, 2012



Premier Anna Bligh’s commitment yesterday of up to $500,000 in funding for the Strategic Planning Phase of a new Stadium provides a big tick for the CQ NRL Bid at just the right time.

Today CQ NRL Bid Chairman Geoff Murphy and CEO Denis Keeffe will visit NRL officials at the new Rugby League Central Headquarters in Sydney to update them on the significant progress of Central Queensland’s Bid for an NRL Team.

Murphy was buoyed by the announcement that will mean a fully compliant NRL Stadium in Rockhampton is a real likelihood in time for the start of the 2015 NRL Season.

“When the NRL says yes to our Bid, we will be shovel-ready to go. I think we could get a strong indication by mid-year. I believe this announcement places the CQ NRL Bid at the head of the queue.”

The inspirational Chairman went on to thank the Premier and the State Government for their “100% support” of the CQ NRL Bid, which continues to go from strength-to-strength.

“We are the only bidding group that is being proactive in the community with our grassroots programs. We deserve our own NRL team because Central Queensland is rugby league heartland and we are a no-risk choice for expansion.”



Please find following the Media Release from the Queensland Labor Party

Media Release Labor commits up to $500,000 for Stadium’s Strategic Plan

A new Labor Government will provide up to $500,000 for the next critical step towards a new rugby league stadium for Rockhampton, Premier Anna Bligh announced today.

“The Strategic Planning Phase will provide a road map to steer a new stadium through the planning and design process and give design advice on how best to link a stadium to the riverbank redevelopment and other facilities,” Ms Bligh said.

It is intended that the bid team, in coordination with the Rockhampton City Council, will commission world-class stadium design experts, Populous, to undertake the Strategic Planning, which will involve architectural studies, urban design work, civil engineering plans, a preliminary concept design and 3D animations of what the Rocky Stadium will look like – inside and out. The planning will also look at the Stadium’s interface with transport facilities, as well as existing community infrastructure in Rockhampton.

“Populous were responsible for Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast, successfully delivering a design which resulted in one of the greenest, most cost-effective stadiums ever built in Australia.” Ms Bligh said.

“Only a re-elected Bligh Government will make sure the Strategic Planning phase is started by mid 2012 for a Rockhampton Stadium.”

“Central Queensland is running a strong campaign to have a team in the National Rugby League should the NRL decide to expand the competition in 2015.

“Getting a stadium built is a complex process so while we wait for the NRL to decide we need to get the ball rolling on the necessary planning approvals.

Labor Candidate for Rockhampton Bill Byrne said the NRL bid brought with it a tremendous opportunity for the region.

“The Bligh Government is contributing more than $29 million to the Riverbank Redevelopment which includes the recently opened Olympic standard swimming pool. “The showgrounds and tennis courts are also nearby.

“A new stadium in the same area would create one of the best sporting and entertainment precincts of any regional city in the nation.

“It would be a major drawcard for Rockhampton.

“We need to plan how to best link these elements together to get the biggest bang for our buck if we get an NRL team,” he said.

Member for Keppel Paul Hoolihan said locals would be comforted by the commitment for planning funds. “It takes more than two years to properly plan, design and construct a stadium so this funding is crucial to get the early planning work underway. “The NRL will know how serious we are with this planning work already underway in the lead up to their decision,” Mr Hoolihan said.

Funding for the Strategic Planning Phase will come from the Sustainable Regional Communities initiative.



7 March 2012

Authorised A Chisholm 16 Peel Street South Brisbane Qld 4101 for the Australian Labor Party. Not produced at public expense

MEDIA CONTACT: 07 3224 4500


http://www.cqnrlbid.com.au/2012/03/premiers-support-for-stadium-planning-great-news-for-cq-nrl-bid/