And the winner is lawyers as Olympics investment ramps up

The 2032 Olympics may be a decade away but it’s already creating job opportunities for construction lawyers as major projects prepare to get off the ground.

The 2032 Brisbane Olympics may be a decade away but it’s already creating job opportunities for construction lawyers.

Batch Mewing says it is preparing to hire up to ten lawyers in the coming months to help advise construction sector clients bidding for projects in the lead up to the games.

Big projects expected to get underway in the next few years include a 14,000 bed athletes village at Hamilton North Shore, described as Queensland’s largest riverfront urban renewal, a revamped Gabba and a 50,000 seat stadium at Albion.

Batch Mewing Lawyers principal Michael Batch said that for legal eagles specialising in construction, the Olympics was a huge opportunity. “It will challenge our team and play a key role in helping clients deliver a huge international sporting event,” says Batch.

“After 18 months of uncertainty during Covid, the Olympics is a great opportunity for businesses to expand their operations and compete for the types of projects that don’t often come along.” The firm’s employment law expert Richard Gunningham says the race

was on within the construction industry to shore up skilled teams.

“The clients I deal with are already hiring additional business development professionals now to prepare for the flurry of Olympic tenders,” he said. “And it’s not only in Brisbane – the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and Townsville will all host events.”

Possible locations and venue looks for the Olympics 2032.

LEAPING DOLPHINS

We hear the news that the Redcliffe Dolphins will be Brisbane’s second NRL team was met with jubilation down at Ray White Ascot where principal Dwight Ferguson is a former player. Old timers will recall that Ferguson started his real estate career under the guidance of father Barry Ferguson, a legend in Redcliffe property circles.

Meanwhile, our spies on the Peninsula tell us long-serving Dolphins president Bob Jones must have sensed there was something in the wind because we hear he cut short his annual fishing trip to the Cape.

And in a sign of divided loyalties perhaps Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Peter Flannery was gifted a Dolphins NRL bid cap to Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner who declared he couldn’t bring himself to wear it.

He swiftly re-gifted it to 4BC breakfast host Neil Breen, but we can’t imagine Breeny - an Easts Tigers Rugby Union alumni - donning a Dolphins supporters cap.

MONEY LAUNDERING

Heritage Bank boss Peter Lock had what can only be described as Covid--19 moment the other day while his senior leadership team were on a video call with a regulator from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) who was clearly in WFH (Work From Home) mode.

With discussions about high finance and banking regulations underway, the ASIC officer was suddenly distracted by a high pitched noise in the background. “Sorry about that,” he told the team from Hertiage. “That’s the spin cycle starting on my washing machine.

COFFEE DATE

A bit of a mini Liberal council caucus spotted at Coddle & Co coffee shop at Wooloowin with Hamilton councillor David McLachlan spotted deep in conversation over his cappuccino with Marchant councillor Fiona Hammond.

City Beat spies hate to eavesdrop but the Brisbane Metro was a hot topic of discussion. The Brisbane Metro, due to be completed in 2023, will provide high frequency rapid transit transport along 21 kilometres of existing busway between the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and Eight Mile Plains. The councillors were deep in conversation when an assistant arrived armed with reports and other documents but our spies tell us McLachlan broke off to order one of Coddle’s delicious sandwiches.

Artist impression of Brisbane Metro station at Herston.