Major hurdle cleared for ‘best Games ever'
The deal, announced on Thursday, will help deliver the infrastructure needed for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, setting the stage for one of the largest sporting investments in Australian history. An artist's impression of Brisbane Stadium in Victoria Park for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics. Queensland government. Credit: Supplied
The deal confirms a combined $7.1bn Games Venue Infrastructure Program, with both governments now committed to delivering 17 new or upgraded sporting venues across Queensland, including a world-class 63,000-seat main stadium at Victoria Park and a National Aquatic Centre.
These venues will form the heart of the Games precinct and serve as lasting legacy infrastructure well beyond 2032.
The Victoria Park stadium, set to host the Games' opening and closing ceremonies as well as athletics events, is designed to become the future home of major sporting teams like the Brisbane Lions, Brisbane Heat, and Queensland Bulls and will be capable of hosting major events such as Test cricket and international concerts.
Early site works, including geotechnical and environmental assessments, are already under way, with the Queensland government also working on cultural heritage agreements with First Nations groups.
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said while efforts were being made to reach an agreement with First Nations groups over the Victoria Park redevelopment, state laws 'will override' if consensus cannot be reached. Queensland Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie and federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King confirm an agreement for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games. Dan Peled / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia
Procurement for work to begin at four key 'minor venues', the Logan Indoor Sports Centre, Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre, Sunshine Coast Stadium upgrade and an upgrade of Barlow Park in Cairns, was also launched on Thursday.
These projects will begin shortly, with the Queensland government promising shovels in the ground and fast-tracked delivery.
The updated venue delivery plan replaces Labor's former proposal for a new indoor arena in Brisbane's CBD.
Under the LNP government's revised approach, the private sector will deliver an arena at Woolloongabba, while taxpayer funds are redirected to other legacy projects, including a Toowoomba Equestrian Centre, a dedicated para-sport facility, and an expanded Queensland Tennis Centre.
Speaking at a conference at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Mr Bleijie said the agreement represented the beginning of a new partnership between state and federal governments to deliver the 'best Games ever'.
He confirmed that $5.15bn in state funds had already been allocated in Queensland's latest budget to support the delivery of the venues. Plans for a world-class 7000-seat Games arena, athlete village and five-star hotel on the Sunshine Coast have been revealed by Walker Corporation in their Horizon Centre proposal. Credit: Supplied
Mr Bleijie also addressed recent speculation that a new Olympic Park train station could be built near the new stadium site, stating that while the idea may have been explored in early discussions, no such plan has been formally announced.
However, he reaffirmed the government's broader commitment to infrastructure, including upgraded roads and rail networks.
'I'm not ruling anything in and out,' he said.
Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the Games would be a transformative moment for the state, drawing comparisons to the legacy of Sydney 2000 and describing the investment as the largest contribution the Commonwealth has ever made to sporting infrastructure.
In addition to Games venues, the federal government has committed $12.4bn to major transport upgrades across Queensland, including the Bruce Highway, faster rail to the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast Direct Rail project.
Sport Minister Anika Wells and Queensland's Games Minister Tim Mander also reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the Games delivered benefits for all Queenslanders, not just in the southeast but statewide. Mr Bleijie wouldn't rule 'anything in or out'. NewsWire / John Gass Credit: News Corp Australia
This includes investing in grassroots sporting programs and doubling federal investment in Australia's Paralympians ahead of 2032.
Games Infrastructure Authority chairman Stephen Conroy said work was progressing across all 17 authority venues, with significant input from technical experts during the 100-day review.
A new chief executive will soon be appointed to oversee the rollout of the delivery program.
Mr Bleijie said the government also remained committed to include Rockhampton as the host location for Olympic rowing events.
With legislation already passed to exempt Games infrastructure from major planning laws and procurement officially under way, both governments said the path was now clear to deliver a Games that would not only unite the nation but redefine Queensland's sporting and infrastructure landscape for generations to come.
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