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In just under three months, Australia's biggest sporting event in more than a decade will be underway. It's not too late for businesses to start planning for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) and to play their part in this exciting event.
From 4 to 15 April, an estimated 6 million extra journeys are expected to be made across the Gold Coast. Transport networks will be under pressure, so businesses are being asked to consider how to reduce their travel during the busiest times. Support from the business community is essential in making GC2018 a successful international event.
There will be temporary changes to transport networks including the way some roads operate, local parking and access restrictions, the introduction of a Games Route Network, Games Lanes and changes to some public transport schedules, routes and stops.
The Get Set for the Games Travel Advice for Business Program provides businesses with essential information to help keep them moving during GC2018, while also allowing them to make the most of opportunities during the event.
More than 3,000 local businesses have already signed up to the program including the free Travel Advice for Business workshops, which provide detailed information and practical assistance to help businesses plan ahead and minimise the potential impact of daily road closures, parking restrictions and changed loading arrangements.
Among the options available to businesses is to work with suppliers to pre-order or postpone non-urgent deliveries. Other options include staggering work hours so staff can travel outside of normal peak periods, offering video or conference call facilities or allowing staff to work from home.
One of the region's biggest employers, The Star Gold Coast, has taken part in the free workshops and developed a travel action plan ahead of GC2018 for the nearly 2,300 people who'll be working at the entertainment and accommodation complex in Broadbeach.
The Star Gold Coast has planned ahead for staff travel, business travel, customer and visitor travel, freight, servicing and deliveries.
For staff travel this includes a plan to promote scheduled bike workshops, encouraging active travel groups as well as providing public transport tools including distributing pre-charged Go Cards. They will also provide off-site parking in a less impacted area with a shuttle bus to their workplace.
The Star Gold Coast has also rescheduled meetings to before and after GC2018 and all essential meetings will be held via teleconferencing which will reduce all business travel. For customers and visitors, The Star Gold Coast website (thestargoldcoast.com.au) will provide information on how to access the property and public transport updates during Games time.
Delivery schedules and volumes have also been reviewed along with servicing and maintenance schedules.
If your business is located near a competition venue, training venue, the Games Route Network (GRN), a road event route, a Festival 2018 site or uses the M1 then these workshops are a must attend event for you.
An additional 130 Travel Advice for Business workshops have been scheduled at locations across the city between now and March 2018. These include bespoke industry specific workshops led by specialised subject matter experts. Businesses are being urged to start planning now to allow time to test their plans before the Games.
Visit getsetforthegames.com/business for more information or to book a workshop closest to your business.
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