First look at $257 million Chandler Olympic precinct

Chandler’s old outdoor velodrome will make way for an indoor sports centre as part of a $257 million overhaul of the erstwhile Commonwealth Games precinct before the 2032 Olympics.

In an exclusive first look at the plans, Brisbane Times can reveal what the Chandler Sports Precinct will look like during the 2032 Games, ahead of the state government’s release of the vision later on Thursday.

The new centre will have 10,000 temporary seats during Olympic and Paralympic competition, with the design allowing for 2000 permanent retractable seats in legacy mode.

It will feature two halls – one containing 10 multi-sport courts (basketball, futsal, volleyball, netball etc); the other a 2400-square-metre space for gymnastics – which would add to the 640,000 visitors who use the facilities every year.

Badminton could also be played at the venue, but the final decision on Olympic and Paralympic venues will be made by the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee closer to the Games.

“Upgrades to facilities across the Chandler Sports Precinct will not only benefit athletes in the lead-up and during the Games, but importantly, they will deliver long-term legacies for a variety of sporting and community groups,” Brisbane 2032 president Andrew Liveris said.

The new indoor sports centre will include 10 courts and retractable seating for 2000 people.Credit: State of Queensland

Premier Steven Miles said the 2032 Games, delivered under the International Olympic Committee’s “New Norm”, would leave lasting legacies in communities across Queensland.

“In the past few weeks, we have put details of more than a quarter of a billion dollars of tenders supporting more than 1000 jobs in the market, passed legislation to establish an independent delivery authority, and appointed Emma Thomas as its interim CEO,” he said.

In addition to the new indoor sports hall, improvements will be made to the on-site Brisbane Aquatic Centre, which hosted swimming competitions at the 1982 Commonwealth Games.

There will also be general precinct improvements, such as better access and lighting, a new green hub with gathering and meeting spaces, and better connectivity between buildings.

Tenders for the work have gone to market, and more than 70 businesses attended a recent project briefing.

Funded from the federal and state governments’ $1.87 billion minor venues program, the Chandler upgrades were expected to create 210 jobs during construction.

State Development and Infrastructure Minister Grace Grace said work at the site would “underline [Chandler’s] status as Queensland’s biggest and most diverse multi-sports hub for both community and elite-level sports”.

“We’re still more than eight years out from the Games, and we’re already getting ready to deliver sports facilities that will be in community use well before our international guests arrive,” she said.

Work at the aquatic centre will include seat replacement, external cladding, an acoustic ceiling and insulation, roof remediation, and improvements to the lighting and public announcement systems.

Swimming Queensland chief executive Kevin Hasemann, who recently helped co-ordinate mining billionaire Gina Rinehart’s campaign to remove an unflattering portrait from the National Gallery, said the improvements would guarantee a “continuation” of swimming’s 45-year history at the venue for decades.

The Brisbane Aquatic Centre will get a spruce-up, including new seats.Credit: Stadiums Queensland

“Since the 2000 Sydney Olympics, 39 Queensland swimmers have won a staggering 55 Olympic gold medals in individual and relay events. Ten of those swimmers won 15 individual Olympic titles,” he said.

“This record is probably unmatched around the world, and every one of those champion swimmers learnt and refined the art of racing right here at Chandler.”

Almost half of Brisbane 2032’s minor venues, which will soon transfer to the new independent Games Venue and Legacy Delivery Authority, were expected to be out to market by the end of 2024.

Work at Chandler was due to start in 2025 and be completed by 2027 – five years before the Games.

The Australian Swimming Trials, which will act as the sole selection meet for the Dolphins team to compete at Paris 2024, will be held at Chandler between June 10 and 15.