Brisbane Olympics 2032 venue plan finally unveiled

Source: AAP
A new stadium will be built in Brisbane as the centrepiece of the 2032 Olympic Games, along with a host of venues and arenas across “every corner” of the state, Premier David Crisafulli has revealed.
After a 100-day review of the Olympics plan, Crisafulli said the government decided it would not upgrade the existing ageing stadium in Woolloongabba, which had been an area of contention.
Despite having vowed as an election pitch that there would be “no new stadiums”, Crisafulli said on Tuesday a new 60,000-seat stadium would be built at Victoria Park, in inner-city Brisbane — an area of green space that was formerly a golf course.
The plan has already sparked community protest, with residents complaining that it is a heritage-listed area with 100-year-old trees.
The Save Victoria Park group said it was not surprised, but “horrified” at the confirmation.
Crisafulli said it came down to choosing between the “embarrassment” of hosting the games at the existing athletic stadium (QSAC) or building a new one at Victoria Park.
The new LNP government’s plan for the 2032 Games has also axed a proposed Brisbane Arena in the CBD to host concerts and swimming, with the allocated federal funding to be redirected elsewhere.
Crisafulli apologised for breaking his election commitment about stadiums, while promising the Games would create a legacy for Queensland.
“When the eyes of the world turn to Queensland, let them see the great people that call this state home,” he said.
“Let them see we’re not Paris, we’re not LA. This will be better and it will be the Queensland way. And that’s what will make the Games great.
“Queensland has a plan to deliver 2032 and beyond. Now, let’s get on with it.”
He also revealed a list of Queensland locations that will host events and benefit from new sporting and transport infrastructure.
They include a new 25,000-seat national aquatic centre at the Centenary Pool in Spring Hill to host pool-based events.
The Queensland Tennis Centre will be upgraded so the sport can be played in the state, avoiding mooted plans for the Games matches to be moved to Melbourne.
The main athletes’ village will be at the RNA Showgrounds, in Herston, with 20,000-seat stadium planned next to it.
There will also be an athletess village on the Gold Coast at Royal Pines and another on the Sunshine Coast, in the Maroochy CBD.
Crisafulli said the $7 billion Olympics spend would be spread out across Queensland, with events from Cairns in the north to the Gold Coast in the south.
They include horse events at a new equestrian centre of excellence to be built in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane.
Rowing will be held in Rockhampton, on the Fitzroy River – which is known to have crocodile sightings.
Crisafulli noted that Rockhampton had already hosted Australian and international-level rowing training camps.
Football and basketball will be played in Cairns, sailing in Townsville and the Whitsundays, archery in Maryborough and cricket in Mackay.
Hockey will be happy, with the sport to be based on the Gold Coast at a revamped 2018 Commonwealth Games venue instead of Brisbane’s Ballymore rugby field.
New roads and rail will be built as part of the Games’ future legacy, including a major upgrade of the Sunshine Coast railway line, providing the first rail transport to the coastal suburbs.
The announcement on the Games blueprint follows a 100-day review and several false starts since Brisbane was named host in July 2021.
The Queensland government and the Commonwealth had agreed to a $7.1 billion funding envelope for venues split 50-50, with $2.5 billion federal dollars allocated to the Brisbane Arena.
The Brisbane Games will also be a “swansong” for traditional cricket and AFL home, the Gabba. It will become an entertainment hub post-2032.
The clock is ticking for organisers with a venue plan finally confirmed almost four years since Brisbane was named Olympic host.
-with AAP