The Queensland government is pushing ahead with plans to replace Brisbane’s Gabba stadium for the 2032 Olympics even as architects warn that demolishing and rebuilding the sports ground will blow out both the Games’ carbon footprint and its $1 billion budget for a new flagship venue.

The Palaszczuk government has contracted consultancy Populous to come up with a reference design – not the final design, but a preliminary process to determine the features it will need and how much a new stadium is likely to cost – which will guide the formal tender.