Brisbane Mayor Adrian Schrinner reveals 2032 Olympic Games wishlist

Brisbane’s 2032 Games could deliver big changes to the city – here is what we could get.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner. Picture: Liam Kidston

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has penned a wishlist to the Olympic Games review boss requesting part of the $7.1bn kitty be used to fund a series of council transport projects including building a bridge between Toowong and West End.

In a letter to Stephen Conry AM, chair of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Authority, Mr Schrinner requested $447.5m in funding for 18 transport projects, claiming the current network could only service half of the trips needed to get athletes and spectators to and from venues.

Projects include several expansions to the Brisbane Metro, restoring the Story Bridge, a new ferry terminal at Riverside, an international cruise ship terminal at the Port of Brisbane and a $350m bridge linking Toowong and West End.

“We’ve asked for a business case contribution so that we can actually thoroughly assess the options for expansion of Brisbane Metro,” he said.

A view of the proposed Brisbane Stadium and New National Aquatic Centre at Victoria Park, in the Arcadis Victoria Park Strategic Plan. Picture: Supplied

“It is proposed that there’d be an initial investment of $50m funded three ways between the state government, the federal government and the Brisbane City Council, and so we’re optimistic that we’ll get support for that.

“We’re just waiting on the federal government’s confirmation.”

Mr Schrinner said the list of projects was a reasonable request in the scheme of the federal budget.

“They would make a major difference to one of the fastest growing parts of Australia,” he said.

“If you look at the federal money that’s been put into other parts of Australia, they’ve put in tens of billions of dollars into other projects elsewhere.”

Adrian Schrinner advocates for an expansion of the Metro system to provide better public transport for the Games. Picture: Brisbane City Council

In the letter to Mr Conry dated December 12, the Lord Mayor called for the “majority” of Olympic and Paralympic Games events to be held in Brisbane including swimming, athletics, basketball, rugby 7s and football finals as well as the opening and closing ceremonies.

He also renewed calls for the state to leverage private investment to build a new stadium in Brisbane, preferably Victoria Park, arguing it would reduced costs to taxpayers by up to 40 per cent.

A concept fo a Toowong to West End bridge that the mayor wants back on the table. Artwork Supplied

“The original Games bid always envisaged the construction of a new stadium,” he said.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie maintained that the government would prioritise expert recommendations from the ongoing 100-day Olympic review, with the board of seven experts to focus on infrastructure like roads and rail.

“The day the review started was the day politicians took a step back to let the experts do their jobs, and that’s exactly what we are going to do,” he said.

Mr Schrinner said he expects the government to honour the expert advice of the review and implement the recommendations, including a new stadium build.

Originally published as Brisbane Mayor Adrian Schrinner reveals 2032 Olympic Games wishlist