Queensland Premier Steven Miles announces Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympic infrastructure review

Queensland Premier Steven Miles has announced a 60-day review of the infrastructure plans for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games which expects to deliver a “value-for-money outcome.”

Conceding a preference for Games infrastructure to move away from previous plans for the Gabba to be demolished and rebuilt for the Games, Premier Miles said he hoped the independent review of the $7 billion venues master would find an alternative to knocking down the stadium, stating “my preference is to find a better value-for-money outcome, that has always been my preference.

"If this review comes back and says there is a better way, then that's fantastic news and I welcome that."

The review will be headed by former Lord Mayor of Brisbane Graham Quirk - who played a key role in pushing for the Games to come the city.

Quirk will be assisted by Ken Kanofski and Michelle Morris.

Kanofski, the current Chair of Placemaking NSW, Sydney Olympic Park Authority and Tellus Holdings,  is a former senior executive in the NSW Government, while Morris is a Principal and Director of MI Global Partners, which has worked with several Olympic Games organising committees.

With the cost of rebuilding the Gabba having exceeded $2.5 billion, the controversial plan had been criticised not only for its price but also for displacing cricket and AFL during the construction phase and for requiring the demolition of a local school.

Premier Miles said he was concerned about the cost of the project, noting “when the cost came in at $2.7 billion obviously I was concerned, that's a lot of money.

"I repeatedly asked if there were any other options, and all the options that were brought back cost similar amounts for a worse outcome."

The review is also to consider the potential aquatic sport venue for the Games and the Brisbane Live arena development which the Federal Government has previously committed to fund.

The review findings will be given to Queensland State Development Minister Grace Grace, who is the Minister responsible for the Games by mid-March.

Minister Grace stated “we're not going to pre-empt the outcomes of this review, which I know will be carried out without fear or favour.”

In recent months, the Queensland Government had come under pressure over its handling of the Gabba redevelopment.

In December, incumbent Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner - who is Quirk's successor and former Deputy Mayor - withdrew his support for the stadium rebuild.

Speaking to the ABC Lord Mayor Schrinner said Quirk would have his "full support", adding “we need to get the Games on track, and we need to remember what this was really about in the first place.

"This was always about the legacy of better transport that we can get for our whole region, and sadly it became about high-price stadiums."

Hockey Queensland and Hockey Australia have each welcomed the review.

With the Brisbane Organising Committee for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games currently planning to place temporary ‘drop-in’ synthetic hockey pitches and stadium infrastructure at the Ballymore rugby union precinct, Hockey Queensland and Hockey Australia have been concerned that the plan fails to leave a legacy for hockey in Queensland.

Hockey Queensland in partnership with Hockey Australia, has been working with appointed consultants, Otium Planning, to complete the Hockey Queensland Major Hockey Infrastructure Feasibility Study. The study was commissioned to review the options for a new or redeveloped home of hockey in Queensland and to expand playing opportunities for the hockey community in Queensland.

The needs analysis has highlighted that Brisbane has a deficit of seven synthetic pitches to meet the playing needs of the community now and forecasts the need for 10 more additional pitches by 2042.

Images: An early concept for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games suggested a main stadium in the suburb of Albion Park as an option (top) while plans to rebuild the Gabba (below, in an Olympics concept) had proved controversial.