That was based on Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s 2021 optimistic announcement the Gabba could be redeveloped for $1 billion including the cost of shifting sports to new locations.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner (right) with Andrew Liveris,president of the Brisbane Organising Committee for the 2032 Olympic Games.Credit:Brisbane Times
But Hinchliffe rejected that claim,saying:“It is not a conversation I have had with the lord mayor.”
He said that infrastructure work was within the portfolio of deputy premier and state development minister Steven Miles.
Before the funding split was declared,the government said Schrinner supported the RNA renewal.
A week ago,deputy premier and Games infrastructure minister Steven Miles announced the broad details of the government’splan to redevelop the Gabba.
But Schrinner said it became apparent this week that the leaders’ forum was “a dysfunctional farce,a pointless talkfest established to placate key stakeholders while all the real decisions are made by the state government behind closed doors”.
An artist’s impression of the redeveloped RNA Showgrounds
“It has also become clear that there must be better options than demolishing and rebuilding the Gabba,” he said.
“I will no longer fall into line and support the state government’s current Gabba plan.
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“The Games are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Brisbane and Queensland. But unless the state government’s approach changes,this opportunity will be squandered through mismanagement.
“I believe the government has completely lost its way on the road to the Games.
“This has put the promised legacy for our city,our region and our state in serious jeopardy.”
Schrinner said there had been a committed team since Brisbane secured the Games in July 2021.
“However,it’s clear that the Games have become more about overpriced stadiums than the promise of vital transport solutions,” he said.
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“The state government’s ham-fisted and foolish attempt to extort Brisbane ratepayers for tens of millions of dollars for a new RNA stadium was the final straw.”
Hinchliffe said Brisbane City Council was putting no money into staging the Games,despite council building and co-funding Brisbane’s new Brisbane Metro busways and the CBD to Kangaroo Point green bridge – both projects that will better link the city’s venues.
He said a further meeting was being held this week with the RNA and AFL to debate the funding proposal for the showgrounds.
But he added that the state government had “no contractural obligation” to help sports displaced by the Gabba redevelopment.
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