Brisbane Olympics: Toowoomba council delivers $86k towards development plan of equine centre of excellence

The Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland has praised the council’s unanimous decision to fund the planning of an equestrian centre of excellence at the showgrounds. Details here:

Toowoomba’s hopes of hosting Olympic equestrian events and teams in 2032 ride on the outcomes of a $86,000 ratepayer-funded development plan for a new equine centre of excellence.

The Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland has praised the council’s unanimous decision to fund the project this week, which will explore both the financial costs and economic and social benefits of creating the centre at the Toowoomba Showgrounds.

The six-month project, led by CPR Group, will involve turning the showgrounds into a facility that could host national and international equestrian competitions currently unavailable in Queensland.

“We will speak with all the groups and organisations about what is required to develop an Olympic precinct,” RASQ CEO Damon Phillips said.

“We’ll also look at other associated opportunities that might feed into it, like accommodation, retail or even a vet hospital or a training school.

“We’ll also engage with the local community and then we’ll put the whole document together — at the end of it, we can show what it will look like, the cost and the economic benefits to the region.”

Mr Phillips said while the organisation was still gunning to host equestrian events at the Olympics, the centre could still offer plenty to teams in terms of preparation and training.

“When you’re doing equestrian, these teams need to be based somewhere for a length of time to quarantine and acclimatise,” he said.

“Queensland doesn’t even have an equestrian quarantine facility so we’ve already spoken to the Wagners about the opportunities with the airport.

“Those opportunities will flow into the thoroughbred industry and there is already huge economic benefits.”

Mr Phillips said the centre was not being designed purely for the Olympics, dismissing concerns of it becoming a “white elephant”.

“We’re already staging probably somewhere in the vicinity of 30-40 equestrian events a year,” he said.

“Of those, the research has shown about a dozen major events each contribute about $250,000 to the economy — so that’s $3m already.”

Mayor Paul Antonio, who brought the motion forward, said the proposal was one of the region’s best chances to access more of the Olympics.

“A facility of this nature would also put us in good stead to host numerous Olympic and Paralympic equestrian teams in the lead up to the 2032 Games, as well as the possibility of hosting actual Olympic events,” he said.

Originally published as Brisbane Olympics: Toowoomba council delivers $86k towards development plan of equine centre of excellence