North Queensland cities push for their own new Olympic stadiums​on February 17, 2025 at 10:29 am

The Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority is conducting the 100-day review of Olympic infrastructure. Read some of the submissions here.See all 16 stories.

While most Olympic planning attention has been centred on the city that puts the “Brisbane” in Brisbane 2032, Queensland’s northern cities have made a case for some new stadiums of their own.

Prior to the Games Independent Infrastructure and Co-ordination Authority’s 100-day review of Olympic infrastructure and governance, both Townsville and Cairns were only hosting Olympic football preliminary rounds.

Now, they are arguing for more sports and, subsequently, more venues.

In Cairns, almost 3½ kilometres west of the city’s famous waterfront, the light towers at Cazalys Stadium dominate the landscape.

The oval stadium is home to AFL Cairns and has hosted first-class cricket matches, including Tests. In the 1990s, an old Gabba stand was transported 1400 kilometres north to take pride of place at the tropical venue.

But despite being Cairns’ premier outdoor sporting venue – the rectangular Barlow Park, just a couple of kilometres away, got the nod to host the football – Cazalys was never really in the mix to host an Olympic event.

That was until another sport entered into the mix.

“Should cricket be confirmed as an Olympic sport for the 2032 Games, Cazalys Stadium in Cairns should be utilised as a host venue given the facility’s proven track record hosting international cricket and other major events,” Cairns Regional Council says in its submission.

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“Hosting cricket at Cazalys Stadium in Cairns would maximise the utilisation of this existing venue and be a further demonstration of the 2032 Games delivering legacy benefits in rural and regional Queensland.”

Cricket will make its return to the Olympics at Los Angeles 2028 for the first time since the 1900 Games in Paris.

As luck would have it, AFL Cairns has developed a master plan for Cazalys Stadium, with Cox Architects designing a 20,000-seat oval stadium for the site.

“This redevelopment is about creating a lasting legacy for Cairns, addressing both our current and future needs while positioning us to compete for opportunities in the lead-up to, during, and beyond the Games,” AFL Cairns general manager Craig Lees said.

“It also opens the door to decentralising elite sports and entertainment events across the regions in Queensland, ensuring our community has a stadium to enjoy every day.”

The AFL, Cricket Australia and Queensland Cricket have also made a joint submission to GIICA.

They have declined to make theirs public.

The Cazalys upgrade was one of six recommendations Cairns made to GIICA’s review.

It has also backed in the planned Barlow Park upgrade, new high-performance facilities at West Barlow Park, an upgrade of Endeavour Park as an Olympic training facility, the prioritisation of Cairns as a host city for pre- and post-Games training camps, and for displaced south-east Queensland events to be held in the city should their regular venues be made unavailable during construction.

“All six recommendations have a focus on delivering legacy benefits for Cairns and strengthening our city’s vision to become a preeminent destination for women’s sport,” Cairns Mayor Amy Eden said.

“The Games are a fantastic opportunity to provide long-lasting benefits to our city and create a legacy that will enhance the lives of residents.”

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With its flagship venue already complete, Townsville’s main aim is a new $360 million arena.

The waterfront Townsville Entertainment Centre – home to professional basketball teams Townsville Crocodiles (NBL) and Townsville Fire (WNBL) – was built in 1993 and, according to the council, has reached the end of its life.

“Over the past 15 years, several studies have been undertaken to analyse the current state and future needs of an Entertainment and Convention Centre in Townsville,” Townsville City Council says in its submission to GIICA.

“These studies confirm a clear and growing need for a new Entertainment Arena to be constructed in Townsville.”

The council wants it built at Dean Street, near the home of the North Queensland Cowboys, Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

“Townsville will benefit most from a new entertainment centre which is flexible, multi-use, modular, and high-tech; capable of hosting multiple types of sporting events,” TCC says in its submission.

“The development of a new Townsville Entertainment Arena at Dean Street will deliver significant benefits to the North Queensland region and greatly enhance Townsville’s sporting and cultural experiences, elevating Townsville’s reputation as a major sports and entertainment city in North Queensland.”

Townsville City Council’s 2032 legacy working group chair Suzy Batkovic, a former Olympic basketballer, said it was about the city getting its “fair share” of Brisbane 2032 funding.

“There are funds available from the state government, so we want to make sure our community gets what it needs and give Townsville the opportunity to become a sports hub in the lead up to the Games,” she said.

Batkovic said the new arena would be a “much-needed training ground” ahead of the Games, and benefit the region for years post-2032.

“I often say ‘if you can see it, you can be it’, so having the infrastructure here in Townsville to attract major sporting events will give our kids in North Queensland the chance to see it, be inspired and chase their dreams,” she said.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re from a regional town or a capital city, we should have the right infrastructure available for our kids to be inspired and work towards the goal of Brisbane 2032.

“We have seven years to get this infrastructure up and running for the benefit of Townsville and our young sports stars from across the region.”

The arena is one of four “priority areas” identified by Townsville City Council, the others being the revitalisation of the Murray Sporting Complex, upgrades to the oval Riverway Stadium and a new aquatic precinct on The Strand.

Townsville Sailing Club ambassador John Byrne said the aquatic precinct would allow the city to attract world championships.

“We’ve got stadiums for all sorts of sports in Townsville, but what we don’t have is a marine stadium,” he said.

“The plans we have for the aquatic precinct is all about a combined sports hub for all aquatic sports and activities, not just sailing. Our vision is to have a facility here with families having picnics in the park, kids playing games on the beach, children learning how to fish with their granddads.”

With the arena estimated to cost $360 million, the remaining Townsville projects would require an additional $55 million in funding, according to the council.

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Prior to the review, the only Olympic upgrade needed for the north was Barlow Park in Cairns – the northernmost proposed venue.

Football Australia and Football Queensland have called for the money to instead be spent on a Perry Park upgrade in Brisbane, but Cairns was not about to give up without a fight.

Last year, the Queensland and Commonwealth governments confirmed $91 million in funding, which would include a new 3500-capacity western grandstand, with an additional 1500 retractable seats for use over the athletics track.

Abandoning the upgrade would potentially delay the planned relocation of the North Queensland Cowboys NRLW side to Cairns, the council argues.

“Early completion of the project (2028) as currently proposed, can potentially avoid conflicts with other major Olympic construction projects,” CRC says in its submission.

“This could be jeopardised if the project were delayed resulting adverse value for money outcomes in what is expected to be a relatively tight construction market leading into 2032. From a value for money perspective, the best time to undertake the project is now.”

Last week, the Crisafulli government claimed credit for $10.9 million in upgrades at Barlow Park, including broadcast-quality lighting and a new scoreboard.

“The lighting upgrades will not only ensure it is an even better facility for the community to use, but that Barlow Park can host televised professional sporting content with broadcast standard lighting,” Sports Minister Tim Mander said.

“The experience for fans will have a flow-on effect, encouraging and inspiring greater participation in sport within the community while boosting local businesses, creating jobs, and delivering a real economic return for the region.”

The lights were already in place when this masthead visited Barlow Park during the state election campaign last October, before the LNP was elected.