Townsville, Burdekin leaders demand fair share of 2032 Olympic spoils

Local leaders and politicians have called for their share of the 2032 Olympic legacy program to be spent on the North of the state. Find out what projects our leaders are calling for >>>

LOCAL leaders are calling for action on a promised Olympic legacy infrastructure stipend for regions outside Brisbane.

The call comes as several Brisbane-centric Olympic announcements were made and large-scale proposals from the South East Queensland Council of Mayors await funding.

Since the Olympics bid was announced, there have been calls to make sure the North benefited from the 2032 games.

The Katter’s Australian Party and regional economist Colin Dwyer have been pushing to ensure the North got its fair share of Olympics glory.

North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils Chair and Burdekin Mayor Lyn McLaughlin said it was important for investments promised across the state to benefit all Queenslanders.

Olympians Nat Cook, Libby Trickett, Laurie Lawrence and Alex Ferlazzo all have connections to Townsville.

“The Brisbane 2032 Olympics were announced as an opportunity to create a legacy for all Queenslanders by leveraging the Games as a catalyst to enhance social, economic, and environmental outcomes for communities across the State,” Cr McLaughlin said.

“To date, all planning being undertaken by Games partners is focused on South East Queensland and infrastructure which is arguably already of a world-class standard, while facilities and infrastructure across the rest of Queensland would be capable of hosting preliminary events and an influx of international tourists if investments were made in the regions. When will we begin to hear how regional Queensland will benefit from the 2032 Games?”

Mayor of Townsville Jenny Hill. Picture: Alix Sweeney

Townsville mayor Jenny Hill said meetings with the NQROC regarding how their regions would benefit from the 2032 Olympics has so far failed to identify plans for any areas north of the Sunshine Coast.

“In recent weeks we have seen media reports of all manner of fanciful proposed infrastructure projects that would benefit Brisbane,” Cr Hill said.

“The cost to deliver these would be in the billions and would not include the $6 billion plus already flagged for Brisbane 2032 Olympic infrastructure and transport.

“It is all well and good to promote Brisbane 2032 but they are using all of Queensland’s money.”

More than 600 ideas have been put forward in the southeast, including an Olympic pool in the Brisbane River, a massive natural playground and the removal of the Riverside Expressway.

Lyn McLaughlin.

The prospect of using Olympic legacy funding to bolster Townsville’s growing sports development capabilities was floated by the mayor.

“If we want to maximise the opportunity for our young children and provide a genuine opportunity for them to participate in the 2032 games, we need investments to enhance our development and training facilities,” Cr Hill said.

“We understand there needs to be appropriate infrastructure investment in Brisbane and the South East, but we also need to ensure there is an equal focus on maximising the opportunity for North Queensland.”

Townsville Enterprise CEO Claudia Brumme-Smith said the Olympics could allow Townsville to ‘supercharge’ its position as a staging ground for future sporting talent.

The leaders had detailed a nine-item shortlist, including the creation of a Pallarenda sporting hub and upgrades to the Murray Sporting Complex, that could be funded through the Olympic Legacy program.

Regional economist and Adjunct Professor Colin Dwyer has been one of the louder voices calling for concrete commitments in the state’s North and called for the regions to get a ‘better deal’.

“All regions are asking for is Our Fair Share. That means direct, indirect and enduring net benefits, like lights at Riverway Stadium, better indigenous, womens and other sports facilities,” Prof Dwyer said.

“Facilities that will bolster Townsville reputation as the Sporting capital of the North, support regional Olympics activities and provide enduring intergenerational regional health benefits. Brisbane needs to reconsider proposing expensive and frivolous facilities like a floating pool in the Brisbane river, and instead consider standardising safety on the Bruce Highway to save regional lives and the lives of olympics visitors who will drive that highway in 2032 and beyond.”

Traeger MP Robbie Katter said it was frustrating to see the conversation move away from critical infrastructure North Queenslanders were ‘crying out for’.

“Good on the councils for having a crack, but there’s no scenario we can comprehend where NQ aren’t left behind. I’d rather see replacements for our 100-year-old hospitals than new stadiums.”

Townsville MP Scott Stewart said the Olympics would provide the city an opportunity on the world stage.

“There are opportunities to host teams prior to the Olympics too as well as the actual competition and as the local member I’m excited to compete for these chances,” Mr Stewart said.

“As a local member I will continue to advocate for better facilities for Townsville, particularly in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympics.

“The biggest legacy of the Olympics is to give kids the potential to compete in sport and fulfil their ambitions. That’s why the Youfor2032 Olympic and Paralympic athlete talent search is so important as it will help identify our athletes of the future.

“As a government we have allocated $100m in this year’s budget to upgrading sports facilities in schools across Queensland.”

Townsville’s Wishlist

Infrastructure opportunities that will enable Townsville to be the training hub of the north are:

• Creation of a sporting hub at Pallarenda that incorporates international standard beach volleyball, beach handball, sport climbing, mountain biking and an athletes training village, including accommodation.

• Upgrades to Murray Sporting Complex that includes lighting of fields and playing surfaces for soccer, hockey, cycling and basketball, skateboarding.

• Upgrades to lighting infrastructure at fields across Townsville.

• Establishment of new rugby fields.

• Upgrades to the Long Tan pool to meet Olympic and Paralympic specifications.

• Construction of a new 6,000 seat flexible arena enabling basketball, volleyball, badminton and gymnastics events.

• Maintenance and upgrades at the Townsville Sports Precinct to ensure facilities continue to meet the International Association of Athletics Federation requirements.

• Construction of the Townsville aquatic precinct to support water sports including kite foiling with some of the best conditions in Australia for these sports located between Townsville and Magnetic Island.

• Indigenous Sporting Centre of Excellence, and a Northern Australian Centre of Excellence for Women’s Sport

Originally published as Townsville, Burdekin leaders demand fair share of 2032 Olympic spoils