South Bank’s future vision clouded by changes to 2032 Games venues

The news

A long-awaited vision to overhaul South Bank has been put on hold so it can incorporate still uncertain changes to 2032 Games venues, Premier Steven Miles has said.

“The South Bank master plan sets out our vision for what is an incredible legacy from World Expo 88,” Miles told journalists at a media conference in Mackay on Wednesday.

“Clearly, though, it’s affected by our plans for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and so it’s important that the master plan properly integrates with our venues plan.”

“We do want to see, effectively, the South Bank corridor link everything from Suncorp [Stadium] and Roma Street all the way to the Gabba.”

How we got here

The finalised version of November 2022’s public consultation draft was expected to be released late last year, after initially being slated as a two-year project with the South Bank Corporation, which manages the site, to coincide with Expo’s 30th anniversary in 2018.

In it, the government proposed demolition of the Piazza, adding a treetop walk, a more pedestrian-friendly Grey Street, new restaurants, improved riverside paths and green space.

Miles did not give an updated timeframe for its release. Announcing the new South Bank Corporation Board in January, Miles said the final master plan was “due for release shortly”.

Why it matters

But if the developments of last month are anything to go by, it may be some time yet until the venue plan is concrete enough to integrate or take full shape.

Miles’ third-term Labor government, hoping to retain power in the October state election, rejected the key call of a review it commissioned into the $7.1 billion venue project pipeline ordered amid opposition to its previously planned $2.7 billion-plus Gabba rebuild.

Instead of a new $3.4 billion new stadium at Victoria Park to replace the ageing Gabba, Miles opted for what is essentially a temporary seat boost at the Queensland Sport and Athletic Centre – plus improvements to the Gabba and Suncorp Stadium – for “marginally” lower cost but little long-term benefit.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli, who has also ruled out a new stadium, has said the LNP would conduct its own fresh 100-day review of venue plans if it wins government, and Miles has said he was open to delaying getting work started on some of the contested venues.

What they said

Across a handful of questions, Miles said while the South Bank masterplan was a longer-term vision, “clearly there are some elements of it that we would want in place for the Games”.

“South Bank will play host to events, as well as to the press centre and the broadcasting centre will be nearby … it will be the active travel corridor between the [Brisbane] Arena at Roma Street, Suncorp Stadium – where we intend to hold the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as football – and the Gabba,” he said.

“When you see the master plan, you’ll see just how great it’s going to be.”

Perspectives

While Miles suggested on Wednesday that a new stadium in Brisbane would cost “billions more” than the existing $7.1 billion allocated for venue projects, 14 high-profile athletes had already joined the chorus of people asking him to reconsider.

Brisbane’s newly re-elected Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, in contrast to his fellow LNP member Crisafulli, has also backed the Victoria Park stadium proposal. Major sporting tenants, Cricket Australia and the Brisbane Lions, have also expressed disappointment at its swift rejection.