Albion Park’s Brisbane 2032 stadium proposal pitched as cheaper, quicker

An Olympic stadium rejected by the Palaszczuk government is back and being spruiked as a cheaper, quicker and “vastly superior” alternative to Victoria Park.

Albion Olympic Park’s stadium proposal for Brisbane 2032. Picture: Supplied

A simple stadium erected on top of the old Albion Raceway track is a cheaper and quicker solution to the state government’s Olympic Games woes, a new development group has declared.

The Albion Olympic Park team has put forward a simple stadium design for consideration as Brisbane’s main stage for 2032, with hopes the government will be swayed by the no-frills proposal that promises a smaller price tag.

A basic architectural design, the 45,000 to 55,000 seat stadium would feature curtain walling and a bare outer perimeter of the stadium, with a sizeable viewing screen on it’s exterior to allow for an additional 10,000 attendees to view the Games from the surrounding parklands.

With Albion currently home to cricket, racing and rugby, the group argues the site would be easily converted into a mega sporting precinct post-Games, with urban villages, entertainment hubs, and premium commercial properties.

The Victoria Park stadium proposal for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games. Picture: Archipelago Architects

Co-principal designer Dr Paul Sparshott, an Adjunct Professor with a background in urban planning, quantity surveying and a PhD in creating sustainable cities, said the two-phase project would be cost effective and deliverable within the tight seven-year construction window.

“All these developers want to construct a masterpiece but we want to keep the design simple and then dress it up,” he said.

“For example, we envision on the outer side of the stadium we start growing a nursery, inviting everyone to come and plant a tree to give it that Queensland rainforest look.

“It’s got to be Queenslander. We’re not flashy. We’re laid-back. So that’s us, cost saving, simple.”

While the cost of the Albion stadium build remains unknown, Dr Sparshott assured it would be far less than the proposed $3.4bn Victoria Park project.

He said Albion was a less controversial site as it was already owned by the state government that would attract private partnerships, with river and creek frontage, road access, and proximity to both Brisbane CBD and the airport.

“Victoria Park we think is a clear favourite, but we’re running our own race,” he said.

“Albion Park is vastly superior.”

“It’s a large open, flat site and far more economically to build the stadium.

“Victoria Park is steep and hilly, it’s mountain goat territory.

“If that stadium was put at the top it would be 950m from the rail station and remember we’re talking about the Paralympics as well, you have to think about accessibility.”

The Albion site poses two key challenges; flood mitigation and public transport investment.

Dr Sparshott said commercial in confidence discussions were being had regarding a public transport solution, with the Albion Park group planning to erect the stadium above flood levels following hydrologist advice.

“This was originally looked at by Palaszczuk government just after we secured the (Olympics) bid,” he said.

“It was discarded, we believe because of the flooding issues and public transport.

“We’ve worked on those and have innovative solutions.”

The Albion Park Olympic group has made a submission to the Games Delivery Authority as part of the state government’s 100-day infrastructure review.

The review will be returned by March 8.

Originally published as Albion Park’s Brisbane 2032 stadium proposal pitched as cheaper, quicker