Mayor, MPs to discuss how Fraser Coast will benefit from 2032 Olympics

MPs and the mayor have pledged to work with all levels of government to ensure the Fraser Coast wins big as Brisbane prepares to host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

MPs are getting together to “leverage” the best they can for the Fraser Coast following the announcement Brisbane will be hosting the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Fraser Coast’s leaders have pledged to work together to ensure there is no shortage of golden opportunities for the region following Brisbane’s successful 2032 Olympic bid.

Member for Hervey Bay Adrian Tantari, Member for Maryborough Bruce Saunders and Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour have already started discussing how the games will positively impact the Fraser Coast region.

Mr Saunders, who already has some solid ideas about hockey and basketball projects, told the Chronicle he had a “great discussion” with the mayor the morning after the big news.

“(We spoke) about the things that we need, particularly for the Maryborough electorate and I’ll be fighting for upgrades to sporting facilities, because I believe we‘ll have a lot of teams who will want to come to Maryborough (to adjust to the climate and train in the lead up) … particularly basketball, hockey and tennis players,” he said.

Former Hervey Bay junior softball player Jade Wall competed at the Tokyo Olympics.

Mr Saunders, who remains a strong advocate for the city’s train manufacturing, also said he hoped the 2032 Olympics would enhance the need for trains.

“It will be good to work with the mayor and councillors and sporting organisations to improve all facilities in the Maryborough electorate and one of the things that I’m hoping for is that we need more trains,” he said.

Mr Tantari said he too would be seeing what his electorate could do for “the game changing event”.

“There is no doubt that this is going to make a massive difference to Queensland overall, not only Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast, but the ability for us to leverage off the gains is going to be massive,” Mr Tantari told the Chronicle.

“There’s no way there can be any downside for tourism … leading up to the Olympics, there will be different nations and different sporting teams training to become acclimatised to our temperatures, so they’ll need training facilities.

“There are so many areas where we haven‘t even thought about yet … commerce, for instance.”

Hervey Bay's superstar triathlete Matt Hauser is also representing Australia in the Tokyo Olympics.

“It sends the message out to the rest of the world that Brisbane and Queensland have grown up … When you’re talking about the Olympic Games, you’re always talking about London or Barcelona … Brisbane will now be one of those,” he said.

Mayor George Seymour said along with working to see how the area could benefit, the 2032 Olympics being held within Queensland would also inspire the next generation.

“I think it will provide a horizon and ambition for young athletes here on the Fraser Coast so they can make 2032 Olympics, it provides a real goal which is part of what the Olympics is about – helping people to aspire to be their best,” he said.