An artist’s impression of the main stadium for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,to be built at Victoria Park in Brisbane’s inner-north.Credit:Queensland government
The government will proceed with a 25,000-seat National Aquatic Centre at Victoria Park,despite GIICA’s recommendation swimming be held at a new Brisbane Arena at Woolloongabba.
“The centre will see a number of Olympic and Paralympic sports move their headquarters up to Brisbane,permanently,a real world-class legacy which will serve these sports for decades to come,” Crisafulli said.
“It will be constructed at Centenary Pool,and that has the backing of diving,artistic swimming,water polo and Swimming Australia.”
The planned Brisbane Arena was not included in the funding package,but Crisafulli said it was not off the table – the government would instead work with the private sector to deliver a venue on the old GoPrint site between the Gabba stadium and the new Cross River Rail station.
The main pool would hold 19,000 in Games mode.Credit:Archipelago
The review recommended the $2.56 billion arena be delivered by government,but Crisafulli said it could be built outside the Olympic funding envelope.
“I can reveal today,the state government has seen offers from the private sector to build a Brisbane arena for the fraction of costs for taxpayers,” he said.
“To my mind,this development is a game changer and proof there would be no value to Australian and Queensland taxpayers to spend $2.5 billion on a Brisbane Live arena when the private sector is willing to engage with us to deliver one,to show how serious we are about progressing plans with the private sector.”
That development would be the centrepiece of the new athletes’ village,which would be relocated from its planned site at Hamilton.
“Importantly,it gives a new life to the Ekka,one of the most important,important cornerstones,where the country meets the city,” Crisafulli said.
The RNA had originally been slated to host equestrian events,but they would now be held at the new Toowoomba Equestrian Centre.
“What an exciting time it will be for Toowoomba to have Olympic medals awarded right here in our region,” Toowoomba mayor Geoff McDonald said.
“The eyes of the world will be on us as the best dressage,showjumping and eventing riders and their incredible horses compete for Olympic glory right here in Toowoomba.”
Before last year’s election,Crisafulli repeatedly said his LNP government would “leave[Olympic planning] to the experts”.
“This must be taken out of the hands of the politicians and put in the hands of people with expertise,” Crisafulli said a year ago,almost to the day.
But,in going ahead with the National Aquatic Centre and rowing on the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton,the decisions were ultimately in the hands of politicians.
Rowing Australia chief executive Sarah Cook told this masthead on Monday the governing body had serious concerns about hosting events on the Fitzroy River,asthe stream could make fair competition impossible.
Liveris said the issues were not insurmountable.
“The technical specs have to be checked,including currents,flooding zones and flooding planes,the stretch of river that actually can be used as the track,” he said.
“The World Rowing Federation has to be happy with all those specs. That’s what we’ll do now for the next six months.
“...LA has basically shortened the track because of currents – it’s a 1500-metre,not a two-kilometre track. If the state insists that it happens there,fixes are available.”
Federal Greens MP Stephen Bates,whose Brisbane electorate contained Victoria Park,said the decision to bulldoze green space was also “monumentally stupid”.
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