Editorial: 55k extra workers wanted to build Brisbane’s Games

Queensland’s Olympic labour force shortfall presents an amazing opportunity for a career in construction, writes the editor.

An artist’s impression of Brisbane during the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Picture: Urbis

Trees take years to grow and Olympic and Paralympic venues take years to build, as we outline below.

But finding the workers to build the facilities is proving exceedingly difficult.

Infrastructure Australia data shows, as of July, Queensland has thousands of vacancies across every construction job group except electricians, carpenters, plumbers and architects.

We are on track to be 54,700 workers short when the Games build begins in earnest next year.

It is a headache for Infrastructure Minister Jarrod Bleijie, who is confident that productivity gains will help fill the gap.

That may be but we also need young people to commit to careers in construction.

Over recent decades there has been a stigma around trades and blue collar work. It is a snobbish attitude that is holding Australia back, and it must stop.

What an amazing way to launch a career in construction, by spending the first seven years creating the sporting venues – and the transport links – that will transform South East Queensland.

It is literally a once-in-a-lifetime job opportunity.

Smaller projects like the arbour need to be knocked off early, while the huge needed workforces for the major venues are assembled. It’s a big job. Let’s get started.

SHOW SOME SPINE

There has – rightly – been a lot of conversation about venues for the sporting events of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games. What we must also be focusing on – now – is all the other things that will make our Games truly memorable, and deliver the legacy the politicians like to talk about.

Remember, the bid for the Games was sparked by the South East Queensland Council of Mayors looking in 2015 for a catalyst to deliver the transport infrastructure our state’s fastest growing region needs. We have not heard enough about this.

Another aspect the “new Queensland government” (as they are still referring to themselves in those taxpayers ads) has not spoken much about is the opportunity to use the Games as an excuse to better connect up the precincts of Brisbane’s inner city – as they will, after all, be the equivalent of Sydney’s Homebush Olympic Park from the 2000 event.

And one of the best ideas put forward is the plan to extend South Bank’s iconic bougainvillea-lined Grand Arbour beyond the parklands and to the Gabba precinct in one direction and Suncorp Stadium in the other.

This 5km walkable “green spine” was first proposed in The Courier-Mail’s Future Brisbane content series in November 2022. It makes even more sense now – with an extension to the new Victoria Park stadium an added benefit.

There has been strong support to extend the spine along the Kangaroo Point cliffs to the new footbridge into the city.

Brisbane 2032 will be the most walkable of any recent Olympic and Paralympic Games. It makes no sense to not take this opportunity to make all of that walking safe for the hundreds of thousands of visitors who will come here in 2032 – and leave a benefit for the residents of Brisbane into the future.

After all, that is what hosting the Games should be about – using the deadline of the event to deliver things we need, but otherwise might waste years talking about and never actually getting around to doing.

The redevelopment of the riverside precinct along Montague Rd in West End that the state government has bought from Visy is also one of those benefits that must be delivered prior to 2032.

And it was good to see Premier David Crisafulli on Sunday confirm the government is considering urban renewal opportunities at that site, where the original plan to was to develop it as a South Bank 2.0.

Mr Crisafulli described the opportunity as on par with the transformative success of Expo 88 – that led to the establishment of South Bank. He also talked positively about the need to improve connectivity across venues.

We urge him to not just think about that in terms of the extension of the passenger rail network into the Sunshine Coast – which is necessary but not the only requirement.

The Premier said: “We do believe that there is an opportunity for some serious rejuvenation and injection of funding there, and I’m confident what will (unfold) in the months ahead and the years ahead will be exciting for that precinct and exciting for the state.”

Touche. But just remember, Mr Premier, that plants take years to grow – and so for Brisbane to have an iconic bougainvillea-lined arbour snaking its way through the inner-city by 2032 … well, those plants need years to grow, and so they must be planted sooner rather than later. Again, that clock continues to tick.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here