A new stadium will be built in a controversial location on the edge of Brisbane's central business district. This is part of an A$7.1 (US$4.5) billion plan to deliver the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The plan, which involves the largest infrastructure program in Queensland history, was unveiled on Tuesday by Premier David Crisafulli, more than 1,340 days after the state won the right to host the Games.
The centrepiece is a new 63,000 seat Brisbane Stadium to be built in inner suburban Victoria Park, the prospect of which has already generated significant community opposition from residents concerned about the loss of public parkland.
The Government left the $2.5 billion Brisbane Arena out of the proposed Olympics infrastructure with Crisafulli saying it had received private sector offers to build the indoor sports and entertainment centre after the Games.
The 2032 Delivery Plan, which was released with the final report of the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority, includes other major developments in south-east Queensland:
- a National Aquatic Centre on the Centenary Pool site at Spring Hill, another inner suburban location
- an upgraded main arena and athlete village, which would be converted to permanent housing, at the RNA (Royal National Association) Showgrounds at nearby Bowen Hills
- an expanded Queensland Tennis Centre in the riverside suburb of Tennyson to include a 3,000 seat show court and 12 match courts
- a dedicated para-sport community facility at the Chandler sporting precinct
- athlete villages on the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, and
- new rail lines and stations, bus corridors and road upgrades.
Crisafulli said that in choosing Victoria Park for the stadium the Government avoided the embarrassment of using the 50-year-old Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre, where the 1982 Commonwealth Games were held.
The Government has not disclosed the cost of stadium but media reports suggested it would be $3.8 billion.
Games in the regions
Regional cities would become Olympic and Paralympic sites through the development of infrastructure such as:
- rowing facilities in Rockhampton, despite concerns about crocodiles in the Fitzroy River
- increase seating capacity and spectator facilities at Barlow Park, Cairns, and
- an equestrian centre of excellence at the Toowoomba Showgrounds.
“We now have the game plan for 2032 and beyond, and it’s time to put it into action,” Crisafulli said in a media release.
The Australian Government will provide $2.5 billion of the Games infrastructure cost.
