In the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Queensland and Federal Government are investing $2.7 billion to redevelop the Gabba, and $2.5 billion for the Brisbane Arena, in addition to the construction of five new venues and upgrade of nine venues across the city.
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.
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,” Mr Albanese said.
“The Australian Government has worked cooperatively with the Queensland Government to secure infrastructure projects that will have a long-term and transformational impact on Queensland as we count down to 2032.
“The Federal Government is ensuring that every dollar that is invested has lasting benefits, not just for Brisbane but for all Queenslanders and all Australians.”
What’s the plan for these funds?
The Brisbane Arena is planned to encompass a new 17,000 seat CBD indoor entertainment venue. It will be built within the Roma Street precinct with easy access for people of all mobilities to the city’s rail and bus network. The works are due to start in 2027, with completion of the project estimated by 2030.
The Arena 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.
The nine existing venues to receive an upgrade include:
- Wyaralong Flatwater Centre and Precinct to accommodate rowing events
- Sunshine Coast Stadium to accommodate football matches
- Brisbane Aquatic Centre and Precinct to accommodate aquatics (including diving, artistic swimming and water polo preliminaries) events
- Barlow Park (Cairns) to accommodate football matches
- Toowoomba Sports Ground to accommodate football matches
- Brisbane International Shooting Centre to accommodate shooting events
- Sunshine Coast Mountain Bike Centre to accommodate mountain bike races
- Anna Meares Velodrome and BMX Track to accommodate track and BMX racing
- Queensland Tennis Centre to accommodate tennis matches
Minor upgrades will be made to existing competition and training venues. Logan Indoor Sports Centre is also being considered as a potential training or competition venue.
The five new venues to be constructed include:
- Breakfast Creek (Brisbane) Indoor Sports Centre to accommodate basketball and wheelchair basketball matches
- Chandler Indoor Sports Centre to accommodate gymnastics and wheelchair basketball games
- Sunshine Coast Indoor Sports Centre to accommodate basketball games
- Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre to accommodate boxing matches
- Redlands Whitewater Centre to accommodate canoe events
A temporary International Broadcasting Centre will be built as a part of the works with the location yet to be determined.
Queensland 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,” Ms Palaszczuk 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.”
Deputy Queensland 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,” Mr Miles said.
“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 Federal 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.
