Brisbane 2032 Olympics: Steven Miles says controversies will be distant memory

Steven Miles has vowed to serve athletes Qld steak following outcry over the vegan meal options offered in Paris, as new renders of the Hamilton village were released. FIRST LOOK

• Premier: Like Paris, we’ll get through it

Premier Steven Miles has vowed to serve athletes Queensland steak following outcry over the vegan meal options offered in Paris, declaring Brisbane 2032 would be better in every way possible, including food.

“We know Queensland produces some of the best food in the world, whether that’s our beef or our produce and we want to make sure that the athletes get to experience it.” he said.

“And no doubt after you’ve had a Queensland steak, you’re well set to race a personal best.”

It comes after Mr Miles insisted that controversy and disagreements about the 2032 Olympics will be forgotten when Brisbane puts on a spectacle to match the Paris Gamesr.

“In 2032, people around the world will be looking at Brisbane as the world is looking at Paris right now,” he says in a column in today’s Courier-Mail.

Mr Miles says debate surrounding the state’s planning for the Games, including a decision to use the dated Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre for athletics, would be long forgotten when Brisbane’s cauldron was lit – and declared Paris had the same trouble.

“Preparations for their Games were not without controversy,” Mr Miles said.

“It’s hard to erase the image of Parisians protesting efforts to clean up the Seine, for example.

“And just as their debates and controversies have faded into the distance, the disagreements about our preparations will be overtaken and forgotten by the spectacle in Brisbane 2032.”

Construction on the athletes village at Northshore Hamilton for the 2032 Games will commence within weeks, with works on accommodation buildings slated for 2027.

Construction on the athletes village at Northshore Hamilton for the 2032 Games will commence within weeks, with works on accommodation buildings slated for 2027.

BMD will begin $87million worth of infrastructure works to create a road network around the village precinct which will house 10,000 athletes.

Roadworks will include new lanes connecting MacArthur Ave and Kinsford Smith Dr and upgrades to MacArthur.

The village will consist of 2000 dwellings which will be converted into long term housing post-2032 however, the government is yet to determine how many homes will be repurposed into social and affordable housing.

Artist’s impression of the athletes’ village at Northshore Hamilton

State Development and Infrastructure Minister Grace Grace assured there would be an appropriate mix pending on the configuration of the buildings, with accommodating athletes the first priority.

“I think the numbers at this point are a little premature,” she said.

“We know Paris has had a few issues at the moment with their athletes village, we want to make sure we learn from them and we provide athletes with a site like this second to none, with views of the river and the city.

“At the moment how primacy is the 10,000 athletes that are going to call this place home.”

Mr Miles and the state government have faced criticism – including from Andrew Liveris, president of the Brisbane Organising Committee for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games – for the haphazard approach to the main stadium.

Construction on the athletes village at Northshore Hamilton for the 2032 Games will commence within weeks, with works on accommodation buildings slated for 2027.

In Paris last week, Mr Liveris sensationally declared planning for the 2032 Games started to “go south” when a vocal minority was able to convince Mr Miles to axe plans to rebuild the Gabba.

While the main Olympic stadium has been the lightning rod for disagreement and uncertainty, work on other smaller venues is under way.

Major works on the Olympic and Paralympic Games athletes village will begin this month as part of the city’s largest waterfront renewal project.

Mr Miles will on Friday reveal BMD Group has been awarded an $87m contract for the first phase of works at the Northshore Hamilton precinct, set to become the athletes’ village.

Construction on the athletes village at Northshore Hamilton for the 2032 Games will commence within weeks, with works on accommodation buildings slated for 2027.

It comes a day after the state and federal governments announced a new greenfields Games venue in the City of Moreton Bay would be expanded as a result of a review and business case.

The Northshore Hamilton precinct – spread across more than 300ha – is set to feature a mix of retail, residential and commercial properties and, in 2032, also host 10,000 athletes from across the world.

The latest $87m “street renewal” package will involve building several new roads, upgrading existing paths and adding a “subtropical boulevard” extending along Macarthur Avenue.

“Our city has so much opportunity – opportunity that we can capitalise on now,” Mr Miles said.

“These early works will transform Northshore Brisbane now, well ahead of 2032, and deliver a better, more connected Brisbane.

“And after the Games, this area will be repurposed into much-needed housing, including social and affordable homes.”

Meanwhile, the state and federal governments have announced the Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre will have 12 multi-sport courts – up from the originally slated nine.

It comes after the Quirk review called for the venue’s capacity to be increased in light of the ballooning population in the area.

As a consequence, the venue will also have 10,000 temporary seats – up from 7000.

It is expected to be built by 2028 and be open for community use before the Games.