Victoria Park close to Suncorp and Brisbane Live prime for development in Olympic venues precinct

VICTORIA Park could become part of an Olympic venues precinct linked to Suncorp Stadium and the new Brisbane Live arena.

A vision for a future Victoria Park, with an Olympic stadium and central park and raised walkways. Picture: Urbis

VICTORIA Park could become part of an Olympic ­venues precinct linked to ­Suncorp Stadium and the new Brisbane Live arena.

The 46ha park in the heart of Brisbane, now used as a golf course, is among locations being considered for a main stadium should southeast Queensland secure the chance to host the Games in 2032.

Harvey Lister, who masterminded the Brisbane Live concept for Roma St, at Suncorp Stadium. Picture: Annette Dew

“By crikey, what a wonderful opportunity that would be,” Harvey Lister, chairman of Brisbane-based international venues operator AEG Ogden, said.

He masterminded the $2 billion Brisbane Live concept for a 17,000-seat indoor sports and entertainment arena and precinct to be built over the Roma St rail lines.

The proposal is now being ­developed by the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority as part of its masterplan for a Roma St transport hub and a business case will be completed within weeks. Mr Lister said if the “lid” over the Roma St railyards was extended, a seamless pedestrian plaza could run under the Normanby Fiveways and across the inner-city ­bypass to Victoria Park, which could lend itself to a stadium and an aquatic centre.

“The walking distance from the city centre is not much different than to Suncorp (Stadium),” Mr Lister said.

The “functional brief” provided to the State Gov­ernment for Brisbane Live specifically included the level of facilities required for ­Olympic or world championship events, such as basketball, gymnastics, tennis, volleyball or netball, should it become an Olympic sport, he said.

Brisbane Entertainment Centre – originally designed as a gymnastics venue ahead of a bid for the 1992 Olympic Games, which went to Barcelona – could also be used.

But Mr Lister said the State Government would have to carefully consider whether the Boondall venue’s lifespan would extend that far.

“My gut feeling is that building may not justify the money that may have to be spent on it,” he said.

International consultants Event Knowledge Services are preparing an audit of available and potential venues for the SEQ Council of Mayors as part of a feasibility study into whether a 2032 bid should be made.

It should be complete by the end of the year.

EKS spokesman John Baker would not comment specifically on Victoria Park.

“There may be some inner-city sites which could be appropriate, though at this stage there is not a confirmed location for this,” he said.

Wherever it was, the key would be designing a stadium that could be expanded or contracted according to future needs to avoid building expensive “white elephants”.

The study is also considering facilities built for the 1982 Commonwealth Games, such as the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (formerly QEII Stadium) at Nathan.

“These venues are now 36 years old and decisions will need to be made as to their ­future,” Mr Baker said.

The Courier-Mail understands the lack of rail transport and the presence of an adjacent cemetery limiting expansion means Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre is very unlikely to be redeveloped as a major future venue.

The Gabba is set for a $100 million-plus revamp by 2024. Picture: Supplied.

John Lee, who is heading the State Government’s Stadiums Taskforce, said: “Gone are the days of super-stadiums of 110,000-120,000 permanently seated stadiums.”

A $100 million-plus revamp of The Gabba and surrounds, due to be complete by 2024, means it and Suncorp Stadium are poised to remain prime ­venues. Mr Lee is not convinced of the need for another.

But professional services firm PwC, which conducted research for The Courier-Mail’s Future SEQ series, suggests demand for an additional football stadium, of about 25,000 capacity, will be driven by the expectation of new NRL, A-League and AFL franchises being established.

PwC real estate advisory managing director Robert ­Cavallucci suggested sites that could be soccer’s “spiritual home”, Perry Park in Bowen Hills, rugby union’s Ballymore Stadium – or Victoria Park.

Moreton Bay Mayor Allan Sutherland said: “I’ve gone blue in the face yelling for an NRL licence here in Redcliffe and we would absolutely contest the bid if it became available.”

If the area succeeded in ­securing a franchise, Cr Sutherland would be demanding the Dolphins Stadium got the same sort of government support given to the Titans’ Skilled Park and the Carrara stadium on the Gold Coast.