Queensland Premier-elect David Crisafulli has only just come to power but looks set to quickly transform the legacy of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics with a big call over proposed venues.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday after Labor Prime Minister Steven Miles’ election victory, Crisafulli said he agreed with former Prime Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk’s call to host the Games’ main athletic events at the modest Games Centre. Queensland Sports and Athletics (QSAC) would be “a setback”. ‘.
“Perhaps I will allow the former prime minister to put forward her point of view and I will put forward mine,” he said.
“And within 100 days Queenslanders will see a plan they will be proud of and by doing so we can restore faith in that process.”
The state government has spent years mulling over whether to make a $2.7 billion upgrade to Brisbane’s iconic Gabba Stadium in Woolloongabba town centre, or build an entirely new stadium at Victoria Park at an estimated cost of $3.4 billion as part of the city’s Olympic infrastructure legacy. .
In March this year, Miles rejected both options and instead opted to funnel $1.6 billion into upgrading the QSAC to seat 40,000 spectators and then hold the opening and closing ceremonies at Suncorp Stadium.
The current total capacity of QSAC is 48,500 seats and the stadium is located about 12 km from the CBD.
Crisafulli has repeatedly criticized the QSAC proposal, calling it a “thought bubble” and an “embarrassment.”
Queensland Premier-elect David Crisafulli (pictured with wife Tegan) has just come to power but looks set to quickly transform the legacy of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics with a big call over proposed venues.
He said he had spoken to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about the Olympics in a phone call on Sunday morning.
“I spent a considerable amount of time speaking to the Prime Minister about that and we intend to speak directly to the (federal) sports minister (Anika Wells), who is originally from Queensland, and I think we can achieve a good outcome.”
Crisafulli has also previously said he would not commit to a new stadium, meaning a Gabba rebuild could be on the cards.
The federal and Queensland governments have agreed a “funding envelope” of $7.1 billion for the Games.
The federal government will fund a new $2 billion ‘Brisbane Arena’ at the Roma Street station site, which is expected to host swimming events.
Earlier this year, former Brisbane mayor Graham Quirk led a review of Queensland’s infrastructure for the Games, ultimately recommending a new stadium at Victoria Park to replace a Gabba “at the end of its useful life”.
“Brisbane needs a world-class stadium and arena,” the review states.
“A brand new stadium at Victoria Park, with a capacity of up to 55,000 seats at legacy and 50,000 seats during the Games, would likely cost between $3 billion and $3.4 billion depending on the scope options chosen; however, it provides the opportunity to offer the best result and overcomes many of the shortcomings that the Gabba faces due to its space restrictions.
“Rebuilding the Gabba, with a capacity of up to 55,000 seats at legacy and 50,000 seats during the Games, at a comparable cost, is likely to now cost around $3 billion, plus $185 million to $360 million in travel costs.” for AFL and cricket.
Crisafulli said hosting the Games’ main athletics events at the modest Queensland Sports and Athletics Center (pictured) would be “a step back”.
The Olympic rings are displayed in Paris on August 18, 2024. Brisbane will host the Games in 2032.
‘A new stadium at Victoria Park allows for a seamless transition, for cricket, AFL and other major events, from the Gabba to the new stadium.
‘The review has been told that the minimum cost to keep the Gabba in operation until 2032 is around $400 to $500 million, the cost of extending the life of the Gabba beyond 2032 and upgrading the venue to meet with modern code it is around a billion dollars.
‘Due to the cost of a new stadium, the panel carefully considered an option to upgrade the QSAC stadium to 40,000 seats for the Games, with 14,000 seats in legacy mode, at a cost of $1.6 billion, and keep the Gabba operational and compliant. beyond 2032. at a cost of one billion dollars.
‘The combined cost of upgrading QSAC plus keeping the Gabba operational and compliant beyond 2032 is comparable to building a new stadium.
“However, it offers significantly less legacy and commercial benefit.”
The LNP has secured a majority government in Queensland, winning at least 47 seats in Saturday’s election.
The conservative party will now govern for a four-year term until 2028.