The Hon Catherine King MP
Brisbane 'good to go' for gold
With the eyes of the world on Brisbane, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk are delivering the important infrastructure that will be at the heart of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and leave an enduring Games legacy.
The Queensland Government will fund the $2.7 billion redevelopment of the Gabba while the Federal Government will provide $2.5 billion for the Brisbane Arena development. Sixteen new or upgraded venues will receive close to $1.87 billion in co-funding on a 50/50 basis between the two governments.
This significant agreement will help Brisbane run a Games that will do Australia proud and leave a substantial legacy long after the closing ceremony.
Brisbane Arena is planned to be built within the Roma Street precinct with easy access for people of all mobilities to the city’s rail and bus network.
It will host Olympic and Paralympic swimming, and water polo finals, completing the list of venues that will put 16 Olympic sports within walking distance of each other.
The Gabba redevelopment, along with Cross River Rail and the Brisbane Metro will anchor a major urban renewal of Woolloongabba delivering more housing, more jobs, and better connectivity.
Access to the railway network provides fast, clean, green and easy connectivity to the rest of the south-east region.
Importantly, all venues provide city building capacity with economic and social benefits lasting well beyond 2032.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said all of Australia is backing Brisbane 2032.
“The 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be the largest event that’s ever been held in Queensland.
“The Australian Government has worked cooperatively with the Palaszczuk Government to secure infrastructure projects that will have a long-term and transformational impact on Queensland as we count down to 2032.
“My Government is ensuring that every dollar that is invested has lasting benefits, not just for Brisbane but for all Queenslanders and all Australians.”
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said it is important to remember no project is built solely for the few weeks of Games competition.
“For example, the Gabba has hosted sport for more than a century and is home to cricket and AFL most weeks of the year,” the Premier said.
“It must be upgraded to maintain our competitiveness for international sport and events.
“Brisbane Arena will provide a new indoor entertainment centre – something Brisbane’s CBD has not had since the demolition of Festival Hall in 2003.”
Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said the projects will be fiscally responsible and are in accord with the International Olympic Committee’s ‘New Norm’.
“Brisbane 2032 will be another opportunity to show what Australia can do, but more than that, it will provide a lasting benefit for Australia.
“Better infrastructure, and building in a lower emissions environment, will not only mean the best for the athletes of the world, but that communities will have great spaces and places to use into the future.
“I look forward to working cooperatively with Queensland on these important projects.”
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the Games are forecast to deliver $8.1 billion in economic and social benefits to Queensland and more than $17.6 billion to Australia.
“Queensland’s population is booming, and the Games legacy will be infrastructure to cater for this growth and ensure our Queensland lifestyle in the coming decades.
“Infrastructure like Brisbane Arena and The Gabba have benefits that reach far beyond the next nine and a half years, delivering jobs and investment.
“The Gabba revitalisation will transform Brisbane providing an opportunity for more housing and an active travel corridor to South Bank and the CBD.”
The Australian and Queensland Governments are also investing in the SEQ City Deal which will deliver social, environmental and economic benefits for communities in the region and support the delivery and legacy of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Brisbane Arena
1. New 17,000 seat CBD indoor entertainment venue
2. Proposed Roma St location to be serviced by new Cross River Rail Brisbane Underground and existing train and bus services; and will be close to Suncorp Stadium
3. Hosts 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Swimming and Water Polo
4. Construction planned to start 2027. Completion 2030.
Additional Venues
1. Upgrade 9 existing venues:
- Wyaralong Flatwater Centre and Precinct – Rowing
- Sunshine Coast Stadium – Football
- Brisbane Aquatic Centre and Precinct – Aquatics (including diving, artistic swimming and water polo preliminaries)
- Barlow Park (Cairns) – Football
- Toowoomba Sports Ground – Football
- Brisbane International Shooting Centre – Shooting
- Sunshine Coast Mountain Bike Centre – Mountain Biking
- Anna Meares Velodrome and BMX Track – Track, BMX Racing
- Queensland Tennis Centre – Tennis
2. Construction of 5 new venues:
- Breakfast Creek (Brisbane) Indoor Sports Centre – Basketball and Wheelchair Basketball
- Chandler Indoor Sports Centre – Gymnastics and Wheelchair Basketball
- Sunshine Coast Indoor Sports Centre – Basketball
- Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre – Boxing
- Redlands Whitewater Centre – Canoe
3. Temporary International Broadcasting Centre
4. Logan Indoor Sports Centre as a potential training or competition venue
5. Minor upgrades to existing competition and training venues.