Construction Off and Racing at Carrara

Body text Preparations to make Carrara Stadium and the adjacent warm up track Games-ready commenced today with 251 days until the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018).

Cockram Construction, GC2018’s newest sponsor, have started groundworks on the warm up facility with works to the main stadium, including the northern stand civil works, to begin later this year.

Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) Chairman, Peter Beattie AC said the commencement of works at Carrara was a key delivery milestone for GC2018.

"In just 251 days the eyes of the world will be on the Gold Coast as the twenty first Commonwealth Games get underway and Carrara will be at the heart of the activity.

"This precinct will be a hive of activity over the coming months as Cockram transform the venue from an AFL facility into an international standard athletics facility.

"I welcome Cockram to the GC2018 Sponsor Family and look forward to the next stage of GOLDOC’s delivery program which will see us take possession of the venues and commence our overlay operations across the competition venues," Mr Beattie said.

Minister for Tourism, Major Events and the Commonwealth Games Kate Jones today announced the 2018 Australian Athletics Championships would be held from February 15-18 next year in the same stadium that will welcome athletes from across the globe for the Games in April.

The championships, which will be the first major athletics event to be held at Carrara Stadium, were secured through a partnership between Tourism and Events Queensland, GOLDOC and Athletics Australia.

"The Australian Athletics Championships will be the perfect warm-up event for the Commonwealth Games – not only for the athletes but for the world-class facilities at Carrara as well," Ms Jones said.

"The world’s best are going to love the facilities at Carrara and we are delighted that Australia’s elite athletes will get the opportunity to experience them early through the national championships.

"The Commonwealth Games will be the biggest event in Queensland this decade and the excitement on the Gold Coast is already building, especially around the track and field, so to stage the Australian titles at Carrara is a real coup."

Cockram Construction, Managing Director and Commonwealth Games gold medallist (Edinburgh 1986, Rowing Eights) Malcolm Batten said Cockram are delighted to be involved in such an iconic project.

"As a former athlete we’re proud to support GC2018. The competitive spirit and pursuit of excellence that the Commonwealth Games generates aligns with our high performance values and culture as a business.

"We understand the importance of ensuring that the local community benefits from construction projects in the area. Over 80% of the subcontractors and suppliers we have engaged on the project are from the Gold Coast area and we are thrilled to be building relationships with some great local businesses.

"We have recently delivered projects for the Melbourne Cricket Club and the Western Australian Institute of Sport and are looking forward to safely delivering an outstanding project for GOLDOC and the Gold Coast Community," Mr Batten said.

GOLDOC Chief Executive Officer, Mark Peters said the development of Carrara Stadium was a key catalyst that delivered the Games to the Gold Coast.

"Having this great venue here was crucial to the Gold Coast winning the Games.

"To see what this precinct has now become with the completion of the Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre and the adjoining sports infrastructure presents tremendous opportunity for the Gold Coast into the future.

"I acknowledge the support of the AFL, Gold Coast SUNS and Stadiums Queensland for all their work behind the scenes supporting the delivery of GC2018.

"An event the size of GC2018 presents many challenges but working through these matters in a professional manner has been of great assistance to my team," Mr Peters said.

The Australian Athletics Championships will act as a key operational trial ahead of GC2018, with major involvement from GOLDOC staff in the planning and operational delivery of the event.

For more information, please contact:

Cobey Moore

Tel: +61 447 109 772

Email: media@goldoc.com

Communication and Media Lead

Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC)

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