Fears $2.7bn Gabba redevelopment will leave 2029 Ashes homeless

Cricket Queensland is seeking urgent reassurance that the Ashes will be safe for December 2029 at the Gabba, as a heated rally protested the controversial $2.7bn redevelopment.

Cricket Queensland is seeking urgent reassurance from the state government that the Ashes will be safe for a December 2029 outing at the Gabba, as a heated rally was held in protest of the controversial $2.7bn Olympic redevelopment.

The Courier-Mail revealed on Friday the state government would go ahead with plans to demolish the existing stadium and rebuild ahead of the 2032 Games.

The formal communication issued on the plans says the Gabba will be demolished after the 2025 Ashes, with a new look stadium ready for events in 2030.

Renders of the Gabba Stadium ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Source: Queensland Government

This has raised concerns the Gabba will not be ready for the 2029 Ashes.

“We are aware of the Queensland Government’s decision to proceed with a full demolition and redevelopment of the Gabba ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics,” Queensland cricket CEO Terry Svenson said.

“We will continue to work with the State Government to ascertain full details about the redevelopment including precise timelines so we can assess the impact on our domestic and international scheduling”.

Queensland cricket is awaiting a decision about displacement costs.

Speaking at a rally in Woolloongabba yesterday, Greens South Brisbane MP Amy McMahon dubbed the revamped Brisbane Cricket Ground “Labor’s electoral graveyard”.

Students and parents from the historic East Brisbane State School – which is being relocated to make way for the redevelopment – were among the large crowd who gathered for the protest.

Hundreds of people turned up to protest against Labor's plan to demolish and rebuild the Gabba. Photo: Tertius Pickard

Ms McMahon said the project should be scrapped.

“$2.7 billion on a single stadium in the middle of a housing crisis, an ambulance ramping crisis is an absurd waste of money,” she said.

“This neighbourhood is growing very quickly. We won’t have a school, we won’t have a local park, we won’t have any of the public infrastructure needed to deal with that kind of population,” she said.

East Brisbane State School mum Juliet Jemesem said she was angry over the decision to relocate the school.

“This is our kid’s backyard, they’ve totally disregarded the need for these suburbs to have a school that is accessible,” she said.

Education Minister Grace Grace said, however, the Gabba redevelopment would provide more social affordable housing, better transport and a legacy for future generations.

“This will transform our city for the better,’ she said.

Ms Grace said the government was on track for East Brisbane State School to be relocated to a site at Coorparoo Secondary College by 2026.

“When it comes to us securing this site for the future of Queensland, we have decided that this is the best way forward, it will give us a stadium that will be the envy of the world,” she said.

“I think we have found the best solution that will meet that school community’s needs well into the future.”