2032 Olympic Games: Gold Coast City Council’s pitch to save event $5bn by hosting more sports
A groundbreaking proposal has been unveiled to leverage existing Gold Coast venues for the 2032 Olympics, promising substantial savings. SEE THE DETAIL
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A whopping $5 billion of taxpayer money can be saved if the Gold Coast’s existing Commonwealth Games venues are used for the Olympics, a review reveals.
The Bulletin has obtained the City’s submission to the 60-day review of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Brisbane 2032 Venue Master Plan.
Council has put forward a “bold solution” which would deliver a spectacular event in what is says will be a “financially prudent, responsible, and sustainable way”.
City CEO Tim Baker said “We are really pleased this review is underway as we have identified about $5 billion dollars in savings simply by exploiting existing Gold Coast infrastructure and planned development that will be completed well before the Games.
“We have world class facilities on the Gold Coast that have hosted national and international events which are not currently identified as part of the Games program.”
The key venues or sports are the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, Heritage Bank Stadium, Gold Coast Hockey Centre, several golf course locations, Regatta Waters Lake and BMX and skateboarding facilities.
The International Olympic Committee new norms emphasise optimum use of existing infrastructure — and council argues it would be irresponsible not to consider Coast facilities.
“The Gold Coast Aquatic and Hockey Centres were both upgraded for GC2018 and were built to be able to scale up to host more than 10,000 spectators and have proven they can do this. These are existing permanent facilities, so the savings are enormous,” Mr Baker said.
The City by 2032 would also boast an 12,000-seat indoor arena used for multiple sports.
The submission outlines that compared to the current Master Plan and projected costs:
* $2.5 billion would be saved if they were to use the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre for swimming — $2.4 billion if a roof was required.
* $2.7 billion would be saved to use the Gold Coast Sports Precinct (including Heritage Bank Stadium, Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre and grounds).
* $2 million would be saved if they used the Gold Coast Hockey Centre
* $238 million would be saved if they used our new Indoor Arena
Mr Baker said the Coast’s submission acknowledged that this was a multi-city event and to ensure equity, if the decision was made to implement these recommendations that other sports, currently allocated here might be appropriately delivered by a different partner.
“We are also very keen to discuss those sports that are yet to be included in the program such as cricket and surfing which we believe we are best placed to deliver,” he said.
The review, led by former Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk, is looking at a range of proposed venues, including the temporary swimming centre and controversial $2.7bn Gabba redevelopment which IOC vice president John Cotes insists is dead in the water.
The review is expected to look at whether the venues proposed so far are fit for purpose or will leave behind a proper legacy.
It is due to be brought down in late March.
Mayor Tom Tate, speaking on Wednesday following the release of the council’s plan, said the Gold Coast was “here to help”.
“This means a southeast Queensland Games, that’s what we originally signed up for and it was never our intention to spend billions of dollars on the Gabba at the time and then another $2.5bn for a temporary pool,” he said.
“If we have the aquatic centre upgraded here with a roof it will be the best facility anywhere in Australia.
“Bring it back to the bid (because since we won it), it’s been Brisbane-centric.”
In December last year, Mayor Tom Tate asked the state government to sign over control of Carrara Stadium to the Gold Coast City Council and nominate it as the temporary home of the Brisbane Lions and cricket tests.
In a spectacular intervention into the growing rift between the state and Brisbane City Council over the controversial RNA Showgrounds redevelopment, Mr Tate told both sides to look to the Gold Coast for a solution.
Mr Tate says the council would spend $50m to upgrade and expand Heritage Bank Stadium and create an extra 6000 seats if the state signed over control.
“What we have there (at Carrara) is a beautiful asset and my attitude is this: to accommodate all the requirements as they knock down the Gabba, they should do a deal with us, transfer ownership of Heritage Bank Stadium,” he said.
“We will spend $50m closing it off which will attain another 6000 seats, that will take us up to around 40,000. And then that’s a great plan B in case something happens with the Gabba, we can run everything from there (Carrara). It’s a good safety net.”
In June last year, The Bulletin revealed an investigation was launched to determine if a roof could be fitted on top of the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre in a bold bid by City Hall to secure swimming at the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Gold Coast City Council officers had been asked by Mayor Tate to undertake preliminary work.
A City Hall source says the plan to upgrade the Southport aquatic centre was first floated 12 months ago after a high-level visit. A bus tour including Mr Tate, then Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and top swimmers along with department heads visited the precinct, which hosted the 2018 Commonwealth Games swimming.
The Gold Coast City Council has not got a seat on the Olympic organising board, despite providing eight venues for the event. It will also host an athletes village at Robina. Business identity and Gold Coast Titans co-owner Rebecca Frizelle is the sole city representative.
- The content summaries were created with the assistance of AI technology then edited and approved for publication by an editor.
Originally published as 2032 Olympic Games: Gold Coast City Council’s pitch to save event $5bn by hosting more sports
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