The QLD State Government, and the Australian Federal Government have struck a deal and finalised budgeting plans for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics Development. In an unprecedented announcement, state premier Anastacia Palaszczuk has released a huge $7 billion spending plan on infrastructure investment into the games, surpassing all estimating figures that were originally floated by the Olympic games committee that won the bid. The premier was on hand with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to sign off on the historic deal, which could see the once sleepy Brisbane rapidly transform into a world powerhouse city.
The huge infrastructure spend on the Brisbane 2032 Olympics development will be mostly split into 2 parts, with $2.7 billion allocated to the full demolition and rebuild of the iconic Gabba stadium, along with the surrounding state government owned priority development area precinct of the Cross River Rail adjacent to the stadium. This portion of the spend will be funded entirely by the state government, with the federal government agreeing to fund the $2.5 billion development of the new indoor stadium, Brisbane Live, located at the top of the new Roma St Parklands Cross River Rail station.
Both the federal and state government decided on a 50/50 split of the package, however it was the huge increase in the original estimates of the Gabba redevelopment from $1 Billion, to $2.7 Billion that raised some eyebrows. Palaszczuk pointed towards the rising cost of construction, with these cost escalations a part of the new normal around the globe.
“There has been a whole lot of factors taken into account. The prices have gone up for commodities, but this is not unusual, this is happening with projects all over the world,” she stated.
Woolloongabba The Big Winner
Woolloongabba is set to undergo the biggest transformation as part of this plan, with investors no doubt keen to take note. The Woolloongabba precinct will receive a green walking connection and link between the Southbank and the Gabba precinct, and a new PDA (Priority Development Area) will be rolled out as part of the large-scale urban redevelopment plan. These plans will be released further along in the process. The Gabba will receive a brand new, no doubt futuristic redesign, in a process that is set to not only host the Olympic Games, but win more events business into the future, bringing Brisbane’s New World City vision further into reality. A large feature walking bridge will be built to connect the Gabba and the Woolloongabba Cross River Rail area together, setting up a highlight game day experience for the large crowds to arrive by underground to events.
The East Brisbane State School, that borders the Gabba stadium, will be moved to a separate location due to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics Development, which has annoyed some of the locals in the area. The heritage buildings of the school will be retained and repurposed as a long-term commercial strategy for the Gabba and the Queensland Cricket Club.
Woolloongbabba is quickly transforming with the Buranda Shopping Centre poised for redevelopment by the Vicinity Shopping Centre group. The Silk Lane development by the Sarazin Property Group are also transforming the district surrounding the Gabba stadium itself.
Brisbane Live At Roma Street Station
The Roma St parklands and cross river rail precinct was earmarked as a site for a new indoor arena by the government what feels like several years ago now, and information and media about the project went silent over time. That all came roaring out of the ground with the announcement of the huge federal government spend into the development of the precinct, which is a huge coup for Brisbane. The indoor arena will replace the Boondall Brisbane Entertainment Centre, as the city ramps up to have what could be the most modern, and possibly largest entertainment arena in the country for the Olympics and beyond.
Sitting on top of the under construction Cross River Rail, the arena sits in the heart of Brisbane giving it a unique and favourable walkability for the inner city residents, and upgrades access to events dramatically when comparing to the current Boondall arena.
A major part of winning the games bid was the already constructed infrastructure that the state government insisted would be utilised for the games. New venues will need to be constructed however, with plenty now in line for a major upgrade.
NEW VENUES TO BE CONSTRUCTED
- The Gabba – Opening/Closing Ceremonies, Track and Field.
- Brisbane Live Arena – Swimming (temporary pool)
- Brisbane Indoor Sports Centre (Breakfast Creek) – Basketball and Wheelchair Basketball
- Chandler Indoor Sports Centre – Gymnastics and Wheelchair
Basketball - Sunshine Coast Indoor Sports Centre – Basketball
- Morton Bay Indoor Sports Centre – Boxing
- Redlands Whitewater Centre – Canoe
EXISTING VENUES TO BE UPGRADED
- Brisbane Aquatic Centre and Precinct – Aquatics (including
diving, artistic swimming and water polo preliminaries] - Anna Meares Velodrome and BMX Track – Track, BMX Racing
- Queensland Tennis Centre – Tennis
- Barlow Park (Cairns) – Football
- Toowoomba Sports Ground – Football
- Sunshine Coast Stadium – Football
- Wyaralong Flatwater Centre and Precinct – Rowing
- Brisbane International Shooting Centre – Shooting
- Sunshine Coast Mountain Bike Centre – Mountain Biking
After the initial excitement of the victorious winning bid for the Queensland Olympics committee back in 2021, a long and hotly debated budget plan has now been secured and signed off on. Further design planning will now enter the stage front and centre, with some of the largest tendered civil construction and engineering contracts in Australia to be up for grabs for the large firms to bid on. The golden runway for Brisbane seems to have truly arrived, let the games begin!
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