Brisbane 2032 Olympics: Deadline approaches for 100-day review

Queenslanders have until midnight on Friday to have their say on infrastructure and planning for the Brisbane 2032 Games, writes Jen Williams.

A refurbished Gabba was an early contender for main Olympic stadium.

Queenslanders have until midnight on Friday to have their say on infrastructure and planning for the Brisbane 2032 Games – and I am hoping that many individuals, organisations and institutions will take the opportunity to do so.

Unlike previous strategies and reviews, the terms of reference for the current 100-day review have not explicitly ruled anything out. The independent review panel will consider, but not be limited by, previous planning work. All venues and infrastructure are under review, allowing Queenslanders to bring forward new ideas.

HAVE YOUR SAY HERE

The sad reason this is so important is the public narrative regarding this once-in-a-lifetime event has been lost. Progress has been stilted, decisions have been made and changed and trust has been left wanting.

No one can deny that sands have shifted since the height of Covid when the bid was won, nor that some of the proposed venues and delivery options have since emerged as unfeasible.

Without a bipartisan approach to delivery, it’s understandable the community remains sceptical about the legacy that will be delivered post-2032.

Aside from the very important investment decisions and planning outcomes the 100-Day Review will shape, it must also provide a reset for the broader community to once again engage with – and be excited by – the Games. The inclusion of Games Governance in the 100-Day Review terms of reference is central to this.

From ideation, the Council of Mayors’ bid for the 2032 Games was all about infrastructure, planning for population growth, and broadening economic opportunities for the region. It was about local people benefiting from new investment and a platform for all levels of government to band together on a delivery time frame.

What seems to be forgotten by many is that the Games represents a $7.1bn injection in infrastructure this state would otherwise not have seen. It is time we move on from the naysaying and collectively focus on how best to leverage that investment.

For the Committee for Brisbane, this means bringing forward regional transport infrastructure; a solution for replacing the Gabba; investing in digital infrastructure projects and smart, resilient design; focusing on precincts and placemaking; utilising private capital to stretch those public dollars further; and bold decision-making that will serve the community for generations.

Jen Williams is CEO of the Committee for Brisbane