One-hundred days ago, the starter’s gun fired on the final review into infrastructure options for Brisbane 2032. Today, we’ll know what shape our Games will take.
One-hundred days ago, the starter’s gun fired on the final review into infrastructure options for Brisbane 2032. Today, we’ll know what shape our Games will take.
Premier David Crisafulli says the cost of the new stadium at Victoria Park is about “three-and-three-quarter billion dollars”.
It was previously costed at $3.4 billion under a venues review by former lord mayor Graham Quirk, who recommended a Victoria Park stadium in March 2024.
Crisafulli said the Games were “fully funded” and he would not ask for more money from the Commonwealth government.
“We’re asking them to see the merit in the argument that the private sector is willing to deliver a world-class arena, the taxpayers don’t have to pay,” he said.
The federal government had pledged $2.5 billion for a Brisbane Arena at Roma Street, which will be moved to Woolloongabba, but not be included in the venues plan, and possibly be delivered by the private sector instead.
The detailed cost break-down for venues will be released later, but Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie insists the plan will remain within the $7.1 billion cost previously announced.
Premier David Crisafulli says the Lions have said they are willing to contribute funding, and negotiations would also be held with the cricket.
Crisafulli said the plan was fully funded and costed.
Premier David Crisafulli says he’s heard the message from Queenslanders to “get on with it”, declaring the venues plan delivered today is a “line in the sand”.
“We’ve heard the message loud and clear from Queenslanders that they want us to get on with it,” he said. “We will.”
The Premier is speaking at a press conference where a line-up of swimming, tennis and Olympics representatives are all speaking glowingly about the LNP government’s plan.
Questions from journalists are expected to follow.
The review panel decided it was too late, too costly, and too disruptive to rebuild the Gabba as a main stadium for the 2032 Games.
A rebuilt Gabba would also have been limited to 50,000 seats, and the review panel wanted to “future-proof” any new stadium with greater capacity.
“A stadium of 60,000 seats in Games mode can accommodate approximately 63,000 seats in legacy mode,” it found.
“(An) approximately 63,000-seat legacy stadium can achieve a capacity of 70,000 in concert mode. Ultimately, increased capacity within a modern stadium would enable Brisbane to compete with other Australian major cities for sporting and entertainment events.“
The review panel found the Albion Park Raceway, which was once flagged as a site for the main stadium, was flood-prone and lacked nearby public transport infrastructure.
Northshore Hamilton would also have required new public transport infrastructure, restrictions on events due to its proximity to the airport, with the review panel also suggesting nearby fuel storage facilities raised “potential safety implications”.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli is holding a press conference in Brisbane this afternoon to answer questions about his government’s 2032 Olympic Games venue plan.
Watch live here.
With the Crisafulli government announcing a new main stadium will be built at Victoria Park, what does that mean for the Gabba?
The Gabba will reach the end of its “useful life” by 2030 and while the Palaszczuk government proposed a rebuild ahead of the Games, this was dumped by Labor premier Steven Miles, who also rejected a Victoria Park stadium in favour of dusting off QSAC.
Premier David Crisafulli said the vision of his government beyond the Games included the Gabba “coming down to make way for urban renewal beside a world class arena”.
“Wouldn’t it be amazing to see the Australian cricket team win gold at an Olympic final — the Gabba’s swan song,” he said.
The 2032 delivery plan, revealed on Tuesday, says beyond the Games, the “private sector will help transform the Gabba precinct with a new arena and more housing for Queenslanders”.
Crisafulli has revealed the Brisbane Arena at Roma Street will be dumped, with a $2.5 billion contribution from the federal government to be spent on other infrastructure.
The government will move the Brisbane Arena priority site to the Go Print site at Woolloongabba, near the Gabba stadium and new Cross River Rail station, after offers from the private sector to build it.
The former Labor government purchased the Visy site at South Brisbane with plans to redevelop it as the Games broadcast centre for 2032.
Visy’s South Brisbane glass manufacturing site.Credit: Matt Dennien
However, the latest independent review has left open the option of the broadcast centre being moved, while recommending the nearby Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre still serve as the press centre during the Games.
“The Visy site is a valuable land parcel in the heart of Brisbane. If the site is not used for the International Broadcast Centre, it could offer opportunities for a range of Games operational uses or as a temporary competition venue.”
Andrew Liveris, the president of the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee, has dismissed concerns the Fitzroy River – now slated to host rowing – is unsafe.
Media reports on the Rockhampton river plans earlier this week were met with backlash, with some citing its location within Queensland’s “croc country”.
“There’s sharks in the ocean, but we still do surfing,” Liveris said.
“Creatures below the water, are they going to come up and eat the canoeists?
“I think that’s a bit Hollywood.”
Liveris added locals already used the Fitzroy for watersports, but said other concerns – such as those raised by rowing bodies about the strength of the current – would need further investigation.
“There’s some things around the edges [of the review] that need more details — this is certainly one of them,” he said.
Protesters outside the event at Howard Smith Wharves have reacted to the news that the government will build a new stadium at Victoria Park, urging the Premier to “keep his promises”.
Save Victoria Park have been vocal opponents of a new stadium at the location ever since former Lord Mayor Graham Quirk recommended it, following a Labor-led 60 day review into venues.
As the group gathered around a livestream of Premier David Crisafulli’s address, cries of “shame”, “broken promises” and “white elephant” broke out.
Key organiser Sue Bremner told media that while the group was disappointed “we will not be deterred”.
“We are prepared to keep going,” Bremner said, referring to an early promise to explore legal avenues to protect the park from development.
An online fundraiser has already raised $21,200 for the group, with a goal to reach $100,000 “to cover legal fees and expert consultations”.
If you’re keen to get into the weeds of these documents, here they are, in full:
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