Queensland housing crisis: Brisbane 2032 Games could make affordability worse

The Brisbane 2032 Games will make the housing affordability crisis even worse unless there is better planning, according to the state’s peak housing advocacy group.

The Brisbane 2032 Olympics will make housing affordability crisis worse without significantly better planning, according to Q Shelter.

While the state is already in crisis, the major event growing interest in the city, as well as the surge workforces needed to deliver major infrastructure projects, will add to inflationary pressures and drive up housing costs in the lead up to the Games, the housing advocacy group says.

Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon committed to continue working with Q Shelter and similar groups on the issue, with the Games to be used to attract investment across a range of opportunities including housing.

Q Shelter executive director Fiona Caniglia. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

In its submission to the Senate inquiry into Australia’s preparedness for the Olympics, the organisation warned there was substantial risk people on lower incomes could be forced out of key sites for the Games as prices rise.

Q Shelter executive director Fiona Caniglia said the findings from its Go for Gold report, released last year, still held today as she urged the State Government to include measures in its legacy planning to prevent the Games from having a negative impact.

“With surge workforces required for infrastructure for the games, that workforce would be required to live somewhere. We need to plan for that, otherwise local people will be at risk of being displaced,” Ms Caniglia said.

One step would be to set up a trust well in advance of the Games to capture philanthropy, sponsorship and investment to be used to fund more social and affordable housing, Ms Caniglia said.

“It’s about responding to the needs of highly-vulnerable people because it’s the right thing to do, not because it’s a crisis at the Games,” she said.

Ms Scanlon said the Palaszczuk Government had delivered on a range of issues requested by Q Shelter’s report last year, including establishing a stand-alone agency for housing.

Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

“We will continue to work with organisations like Q Shelter who have great ideas on how we can deliver housing outcomes as we roll out our record $5 billion investment in social and affordable housing,” Ms Scanlon said.

“The Games provides us with the opportunity to attract and deliver investment that sets the State up for decades to come, including new housing.”

She said the Gabba stadium redevelopment would serve as an anchor for urban renewal and that the Woolloongabba priority development areas would deliver more housing, including social and affordable housing.