No figures but wish list revealed for Sunshine Coast’s Olympic vision

While timing and budgets are still unknown the Sunshine Coast Council has lifted the lid on its wishlist for transport, sport and housing projects to cater for the 2032 Games.

Sunshine Coast mayor Mark Jamieson. Picture: Sam Turner

Sunshine Coast Council has launched plans to reconstruct large areas for sporting and community to cater for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympics games, however budgets and time frames remain uncertain.

Mayor Mark Jamieson was front and centre to launch the 10+10+ Vision concept, but said it was largely up to state and federal governments to fund the projects.

“There will be a variety of funding measures and council will obviously be responsible for their share of that,” he said.

“We will be receiving considerable support from the state and federal government.”

The 12-page document was described as the “first step” to leveraging off the Games.

Mr Jamieson said the Kawana sports precinct should be redeveloped and known as the “Sunshine Coast Olympic Sports Precinct” where basketball and football events could be held.

He said the area would need an indoor sports precinct with seating for up to 9000 people for basketball preliminary events – instead of at a purpose-built convention centre at Maroochydore as proposed by Fairfax MP Ted O’Brien.

“If we don’t deliver a long-term indoor sports legacy projects then organisations like the International Basketball Federation might say ‘well let’s go somewhere else’,” Mr Jamieson said.

“Additionally we’ll have invested in the city centre for an athlete’s village capable of accommodating 1300 to 1400 people.”

Screenshots from a fly-through video released by the IOC show plans for a new indoor sports centre at the Kawana Sports Precinct.

The document listed public transport connections from Beerwah to Maroochydore and a public transport project with local links as crucial.

It also listed arts and cultural programs and the need for more hotel and accommodation options.

A Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee spokeswoman said they had met with the Sunshine Coast Mayor and representatives late last year and had been briefed on their plans.

“The Sunshine Coast is expected to host the marathon, road cycling, race walk, mountain bike, sailing, football and basketball events,” she said.

“Eighty four per cent of venues detailed in the Brisbane 2032 Master Plan are existing or temporary, and any new venues being constructed are part of an accelerated infrastructure program designed to meet the needs of the growing local population.

“Infrastructure planning is a matter for the state and federal governments, who ensure projects are prioritised in consideration of legacy planning and the forecast population growth of a region.”

The 10+10+ Vision for the Sunshine Coast was released with the help of the 2032 Legacy Plan Community Reference Group.

“There will be an enduring legacy for current and future generations of people here,” Mr Jamieson said.

In response to the new document, Fairfax MP Ted O’Brien called on the council to support a multipurpose entertainment centre in Maroochydore, which he said would help the case for a rail connection into Maroochydore.