Backers revive plans for key Brisbane 2032 Games venues at Victoria Park

Proponents of a new sporting hub at Brisbane’s Victoria Park - that would include key venues for the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics including the main Games stadium - have released a discussion paper for the 100-day Olympic venue review.

The backers are aiming to revive a proposal for a $3.4 billion Olympic stadium in inner Brisbane, recommended by the Graham Quirk-led review in March but rejected by the former Queensland Government earlier this year and criticised by now Queensland Premier David Crisafulli when in opposition.

Global design and consultancy organisation Arcadis has set out the case for a new 60,000-seat stadium and an all-new aquatic centre to serve as centrepiece venues for Brisbane’s 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games to the new Queensland Government’s Olympic venue review.

The new stadium, which it is claimed would unlock The Gabba for mixed-use redevelopment, is now projected to have a total project cost of $2.641 billion while Arcadis’ Victoria Park Precinct masterplan includes a National Aquatics Centre (with a capacity of 18,000-seat, to be downsized after the Games) at a cost of $511 million and the Federal Government-funded Brisbane Live/Arena project with a projected cost of $881 million.

The Victoria Park proposals have gained high-profile support, with Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee President Andrew Liveris today stating, as reported by Reuters, that he “would ‘love’ a purpose-built arena as the main stadium” for the 2032 Summer Games.

Acknowledging the potential cost, Liveris said that private investment would be “key” to delivering the project within the Queensland and Federal Governments’ $7.1 billion funding envelope, noting “if you don’t want to increase the allocation from Federal or state government, which neither government does want to do, then the private partnership model comes into play.”

Later, Liveris told a News Corp/Nova podcast “the engineer that you’re talking to looks at not just a location with respect to how pretty and beautiful it is, which of course would fit Victoria Park, but accessibility, transportation and cost delivery of the supply chains

“Access points matter, especially with the Olympics. Where do the athletes come in? Where do the food and beverage come in? Where do the VIPs come in? All of that needs to be solved for economically.

“If a stadium like that appears at Victoria Park, that fits the future of cricket and (Australian rules) football perfectly, and has private sector funding that gives it a return model like Optus Stadium out in Perth, then of course (I) would say ‘wow, what a great answer for the Olympics’.”

Swimming Australia Chief Executive Rob Woodhouse has also said that the sport’s “preferred option” is for swimming, diving, water polo and artistic swimming to be “staged at the aquatic centre, which would be downsized after the Games.”

Currently, swimming for the 2032 Games is earmarked for a drop-in pool at the planned Brisbane Live/Arena.

100-day review
The Queensland Government started its promised 100-day Olympic infrastructure review last week with its terms of reference allowing new venues, such as Victoria Park, to be considered, despite the LNP’s pre-election pledge not to build a new stadium.

Arcadis’ Brisbane 2032 report, put together in association with architectural, landscape and urban design company, Archipelago, proposes legacy infrastructure from the Games, arguing that irrespective of the Olympics, the region needs a new oval stadium, suitable for cricket, AFL and concerts.

In a foreword to the report, Paul Allan, Brisbane City Executive for Arcadis’ Global Cities Program, wrote “the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games has been a political football. Awarded back in 2021, three main stadium locations have already been considered and dismissed.

“The conversation has primarily focused around a ‘cost’ only equation and not the long term ‘value’ to both the city and state, including the legacy that would endure for many generations to come. A stadium and/or multiple venues at Victoria Park would be the catalyst that allows AFL, cricket and major international events, including the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, to further propel Brisbane onto the global stage, where this rapidly changing city belongs.

“Additionally, leveraging the existing investment in mass transit infrastructure provides a sustainable base to build upon.”

With overall development suggests a productive use of sports and recreation zoned land that was formerly Victoria Park Golf Course, with the site said to be ideally positioned to leverage further benefits from existing mass transit investments in Brisbane Metro and Cross River Rail.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner released a draft master plan for Victoria Park in 2020, to convert the 50-hectare golf course into a public park and, together, all levels of government have committed $120 million to the project.

In its review submission, Arcadis argued a stadium would complement the park, rather than diminish the green space, noting “commercial and physical activation has key non-financial benefits, including that of increased safety for park users and the surrounding community.

“Considerable focus has been placed on the safety concerns of large urban parks, the primary mitigation factor for which is the consistent and constant activation of the space.

“The creation of an activated sports and entertainment precinct provides this activation to naturally create movement that encourages greater use of Victoria Park.”

Images: Concept render of the proposed Brisbane 2032 Olympic stadium at Victoria Park (top, credit: Archipelago), Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee President Andrew Liveris (middle, credit: Shutterstock) and the Brisbane Live/Arena with a drop-in pool - as envisaged in current 2032 Games planning (below, credit: Queensland Government).