Gabba redevelopment: Taxpayers could foot sporting compo bill

Queensland taxpayers could be hit with a compo bill as the Brisbane Lions and Queensland Cricket find new homes for the duration of the $2.7bn Gabba redevelopment.

• Gabba revamp: New details revealed

Brisbane Lions and Queensland Cricket will know “in months” where they will play during the four-year Gabba rebuild, and taxpayers could also pay compensation.

Demolition of The Gabba is set to start after the Ashes in late 2025, with Deputy Premier Steven Miles on Friday revealing the state would push ahead with the $2.7bn plan.

AFL Queensland and Queensland Cricket have been in talks with the state government about their home venues during the four-year rebuild, with the RNA Showgrounds, Allan Border Field and other southeast Queensland venues touted as possible locations.

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

Mr Miles told The Courier-Mail’s Future Brisbane summit on Friday that discussions with the sporting codes were ongoing and he hoped to “firm that up in months”.

“We had to finalise this investment decision on the Gabba,” he said. “We know they need somewhere to play.”

The agreement with sporting codes could also involve compensation for the Gabba being out of action, but Mr Miles said it would be dependant on the arrangements with each code.

“That’s something that we’ll take into account to be considered in the ultimate cost benefit analysis,” he said.

Brisbane Lions Chairman Andrew Wellington said the Lions looked forward to hearing where the club would play.

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

“As a club we’re likely to hit 60,000 members in 2024, we’re the hirer attracting the largest crowds, we’ve had seven sellouts this year and I have no doubt we will be filling the new Gabba on a regular basis prior to the Olympics and for years to come,” he said.

Mr Miles also faces a battle with Brisbane City Council Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner over the traffic plan for Vulture and Stanley streets.

Under the proposed Gabba redevelopment both streets would remain open to traffic, with a previous push for the roads to be tunnelled ruled out early due to the cost.

“The decision at this stage has been that the cost isn’t justified,” Mr Miles said.

“Instead the stadium will be further cantilevered over both Stanley and Vulture Streets.

Usman Khawaja of Queensland celebrates after scoring a century during day four of the Sheffield Shield match between Queensland and South Australia at The Gabba.

Darcy Gardiner of the Lions in action during the 2023 AFL Second Preliminary Final match between the Brisbane Lions and the Carlton Blues at The Gabba.

“One of the advantages of the Lord Mayor’s new Metro service and station is that we will no longer need the dedicated busline on Stanley St, so that gives us a little bit more room to move on traffic interruptions during construction.”

Mr Schrinner, appearing next to Mr Miles at a press conference announcing the Gabba redevelopment, said the council would continue to lobby the state for tunnels.

“These are all busy corridors that we’re talking about and we need to manage that because it is a big project,” he said.

“This will take many, many years to deliver, and so even demolition of the existing Gabba will take some time.”

Deputy Premier Steven Miles with Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner during Friday’s Future Brisbane Summit. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail