Schrinner firms his push for Victoria Park stadium’s ‘compelling case’

The news

Brisbane’s recently re-elected LNP Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has doubled down on his support for a new 55,000-seat Victoria Park stadium as a 2032 Games legacy to replace the ageing Gabba.

While reiterating before the first meeting of the Brisbane 2032 organising committee on Friday he would work with whatever option the government chose, Schrinner said some options were better.

“I understand both the stance taken by the Premier and the Opposition Leader,” Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said of their rejection of a new stadium – but he doesn’t agree.Credit: Matt Dennien

“And I think the Quirk report really clearly portrayed that Victoria Park is a better option,” he said of the outcome of the 60-day review of venue plans so far by former lord mayor Graham Quirk.

Schrinner also pushed back on the narrow scope of what he described as an otherwise “sensible position” now being taken to the state election by the LNP, saying “any serious review” needed to consider the “very compelling case” for Victoria Park.

How we got here

The Quirk review’s centrepiece was for the $3.4 billion stadium at Victoria Park in the city’s north to replace the Gabba, likely to reach the end of its life by 2030 and require $1 billion to keep it up to code beyond that.

Miles has instead chosen an option rejected by the review for a $1.6 billion refurbishment of the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre at Nathan with temporary stands and tipped to need at least $400 million in transport investment.

The Gabba and Suncorp stadiums would also be refurbished, with the latter to host the opening and closing ceremonies, in a sharp departure from the state’s now-dumped $2.7 billion plan to rebuild the Gabba for that purpose.

Why it matters

Schrinner’s position places him partially at odds with the leader of the LNP in state parliament and alternate premier contesting October’s vote, David Crisafulli, on his plans for a fresh 100-day review of Games planning if elected.

It is also a U-turn from his opposition before the March 16 council elections when the idea of a new stadium at Victoria Park was floated. Both Crisafulli and Premier Steven Miles have ruled out a new stadium.

What they said

“I understand both the stance taken by the Premier and the Opposition Leader,” Schrinner told journalists meeting arriving organising committee members in Brisbane on Friday morning.

“They represent the whole state, I represent Brisbane. I’d love to see a great legacy outcome for Brisbane – and you would expect me to say that as well.”

Pressed on Crisafulli’s suggestions a new stadium wasn’t part of the Games pitch, Schrinner said it had always been: first at Albion and then at the Gabba.

But he sought to downplay disagreement and differences in opinion as a sign of a healthy democracy and something which happened in every host city, and that he would keep pushing his position.

Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee Board president Andrew Liveris described the week’s events, including denied reports the government sought advice on cancelling the games, as “not a good look for any of us” as he arrived.

“The Gabba will sort of limp through until the Olympics, but what happens after that? We need a good quality oval stadium for AFL, cricket, for large concerts … this is an ongoing need of the community and it’s got nothing to do with the Olympics.”

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner

Speaking afterwards, he stressed those in the room – including Miles – agreed on “recapturing the narrative” of why the Games were good for the city, state and country, adding he was pleased people were thinking about the legacy for AFL and cricket but that those codes “need to speak up”.

“That’s not the Olympics’ job. We will receive what the state says is an important legacy, and then we’ll work with that,” he said.

Perspectives

The Brisbane Lions have expressed disappointment the Victoria Park options was shot down so quickly, but Queensland Cricket’s response has been more muted.

Infrastructure Minister Grace Grace, speaking to ABC Radio Brisbane this week, conceded that “eventually someone in the future … post 2032” would need to look further at the future of the Gabba, “that is not required right now”.