Editorial: Brisbane 2032 deserves more

All Games venues must be considered, because the very worst outcome would be that we head into 2032 with the least politically fraught model, writes the editor.

The review of the venues planned for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games clearly has one primary political motivator: to give Premier Steven Miles the cover to dump his government’s contentious plans to knock down and rebuild the Gabba as the main stadium.

But the review chief – former LNP Brisbane lord mayor Graham Quirk – would be doing his city a massive disservice if that were his primary motivator.

Fortunately, there is every sign so far that he is on the right track.

Mr Quirk’s consultations have been many and varied, which is critical, because the reason the government ended up with the Gabba proposal in the first place was because one person – former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk – unilaterally unveiled it in the dying days of the successful bid process.

Prior to that, the idea had always been to build a new stadium at Albion on the site currently home to the Albion Park harness racing and greyhounds track. That would have meant no issues with so-called “displacement” for the Brisbane Lions AFL team and cricket in the years the Gabba would be being rebuilt. It would have also left our capital city with the legacy of a second oval stadium.

The Gabba became so fraught that Premier Miles made it known pretty quickly when he took office that he would move away from it.

Since then, there has been much chatter about where the biggest Olympic and Paralympic sport – athletics – should be held, along with the opening and closing ceremonies that are always such iconic parts of the world’s biggest event every four years.

Australia’s “Mr Olympics”, International Olympic Committee president John Coates, recently revealed he had told Mr Quirk the athletics should be back where they were at the 1982 Commonwealth Games – the old QEII Stadium at Nathan that is now the Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre. He suggested a new main grandstand and temporary seating for the Games could see the venue hold 45,000 people. The ceremonies, he said, should be at Suncorp Stadium.

Mr Coates is the man behind the Brisbane Games. He shepherded the bid through the IOC – a return on the investment he made in the 1980s when he worked with then lord mayor Sallyanne Atkinson on the city’s failed bid for the 1992 Olympic Games.

His motivation, then, is clear: to get the Games planning back on track after three wasted years by the Palaszczuk administration – and to win back the public support for the event that had existed, but has since dissipated as politicians dithered.

But as much as we all owe Mr Coates a great deal – because these Games are undeniably a good thing for our city and our state – he does not have a mortgage on good ideas, despite his decades of unrivalled experience at the centre of the Olympic movement.

That is why The Courier-Mail is keen to air publicly the other big ideas for these Games that are out there as the 60-day Quirk review passes its halfway mark.

One is the “Golden Triangle” concept put forward on Wednesday by respected local businessman Steve Wilson and his company director wife Jane – two people with a long history of believing in, and investing in, this city. The Wilsons propose a main stadium at Victoria Park and the indoor arena at the Gabba, with an upgraded Suncorp Stadium the third point of their triangle. It is an interesting idea, as it embraces the key opportunity for Brisbane of having the Games in the inner city, and solves the dual problems of what to do about the outdated Gabba and the challenges of building the arena at its proposed site at Roma Street.

The Wilson concept, and the one promoted by Mr Coates, are but two of the fresh new visions out there.

They all must be considered, because the very worst outcome would be that we head into 2032 with the least politically fraught venues model. That approach would amount to the biggest missed opportunity in our lifetimes.

This is a debate we must have.

SEASON LIKE NO OTHER

Footy’s back, and it’s back in a way that we’ve never seen before.

Round 1 will kick off on Sunday with a double-header in, of all places, Las Vegas.

It is the most spectacular, and most hyped, opening to a season in memory. But when our Brisbane Broncos run on to Allegiant Stadium to take on the Roosters, it will be all about the footy.

We’ve got 27 rounds just to decide which eight teams get the right to compete for the ultimate prize. For the Broncos, the pain of last year’s grand final loss to the Panthers will drive them on, while the Cowboys, Titans and Dolphins are all tipped to be challenging for finals glory.

Wrapping today’s paper, our
24-page footy liftout tells you everything you need to know about the season ahead, with the full season draw, Supercoach advice and season tips from our team of footy experts.

This year, there’s something almost every footy fan agrees on.

It’s time to end the Penrith dynasty. We just hope it’s a Queensland team that does it.

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