Power of togetherness

IN THE lead-up to the 2000 Sydney Olympics a Sunshine Coast Taskforce was formed to help our region gain maximum benefits from the event.
It was an independent committee heading by Coolum businesswoman Dianne Swan, with members chosen from a variety of community sectors.
There were people representing all three shires and Noosa mayor Bob Abbott played a strong role.
There was overlapping success from those Games, including some great business opportunities for companies in Eumundi, Nambour and Gympie.
Plus there came Olympic pools in Kawana and Noosa, an equestrian centre in Doonan and a university athletics track and basketball complex in Caloundra.
The highest profile country to train here on the Coast was the defending Olympic rowing champions Holland, who based themselves out of Twin Waters and used the upper reaches of the Maroochy River.
Thankfully events such as the Noosa and Mooloolaba triathlons activated the increase of interest of teams and individuals to call the Coast home for pre-training.
Council CEO Brett de Chastel has got it right – “We’ll certainly encourage teams to come but we’re not going to provide financial incentives or exclude our communities from the venues.”
Mr Chastel is referring to the push from some who are suggesting our local venues can be offered for exclusive use to teams in the lead-up to the Gold Coast Games 2018.
He goes on to say: “We are having discussions with various representatives from different countries about the Games and we are working closely with Tourism Noosa”.
Which sadly is not the way to go with sport involvement.
Coast Sport defines its own boundaries and is contested in most sports between Caboolture and Gympie.
Tourism plays no role other then the marketing and branding of the bigger events, on which they do a good job.
Allow me to suggest, for the good of the entire Sunshine Coast, there already is a 2018 Games Committee in place headed by para gold medallist and uni professor Brendan Burkett.
The group already has State Government, schools, tourism, chamber of commerce and Coast Sports Federation involvement.
Noosa councillor Sandy Bolton is the patron of the federation, so really all the bases are covered.
So please work with this committee, as I am sure Big Bob would agree – let’s take a united approach to achieve great results.
I suppose I should offer similar advice to Noosa Chamber of Commerce president Sarah Fisher, before her group gets too far with their push for a new convention centre.
Ms Fisher’s group is targeting a 1000-seat complex – “the feasibility study is being done by volunteers who shared the vision of the project.”
The J appears to be the spot chosen for the new venue, and the study should be ready in four months.
Sarah, why not join forces with the already established arts and convention group which has 30 years involvement and built a major complex for the entire Sunshine Coast?
Let’s all start thinking of the future.
Until next time …