‘Extraordinary’ $500m ‘blowout’ linked to Olympics venue revealed

The Deputy Premier has revealed a potential $500m Olympics-linked cost blowout, arguing it was “another blowout” the former Labor government hid from Queenslanders.

An artists impression of the proposed Brisbane Arena.

• Editor’s view: LNP still in election mode

The construction of Brisbane Arena for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games could force the state government to spend an extra $500m upgrading the nearby Roma St Station.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie revealed the figure on Sunday, arguing it was “another blowout” the former Labor government hid from Queenslanders.

Mr Bleijie last week revealed the cost of three minor venues on the Sunshine Coast and at Chandler had increased by $181m and now expects the $2.5bn Brisbane Arena development – funded by the federal government – will also increase.

“Already the cost analysis is saying, and I’ve been advised by my department, that’s likely going to be over $2.5bn,” he said.

However, Mr Bleijie also revealed the construction of Brisbane Arena – formerly known as Brisbane Live – will force an upgrade of the city’s main train station.

Jarrod Bleijie on Sunday. Picture: Richard Walker

“Roma Street Station is going to have to be upgraded to cater for Brisbane Live and that project could be upwards of $500m on top of the $2.5bn Brisbane Live,” he said.

“This is an extraordinary amount of blowouts that the Labor Party have hid from the people of Queensland.

“Steven Miles needs to apologise for hiding these cost blowouts.”

Mr Bleijie said, in the “spirit of openness and transparency”, he would continue revealing cost escalations.

Labor’s health spokesman Mark Bailey called on the government to let experts finish a business case and dismissed Mr Bleijie’s claim.

“This is just a petty political ploy from Deputy Premier Bleijie and it’s hard to take it seriously,” he said.