Skate rink, cinema, circus: Bold plan to activate Olympics site

Mini golf, boxing tournaments, concerts, cinemas and a circus. Bold ideas have been mooted to “activate’’ a riverfront site ahead of its transformation into the 2032 Olympics Athletics Village.

A massive expansion of outdoor activities at a riverfront site next to the Eat Street Markets has been mooted to get Brisbanites familiar with the area before the 2032 Olympics.

Part of the 304ha Northshore Hamilton site could be the temporary home to a circus, mini golf or concert venue ahead of it being converted into the Games Athletics Village.

Those are just some of the ideas floated in a land use plan prepared by Land Partners for the site, which the State Government declared a Priority Development Area in 2008.

The Government recently announced, after Brisbane’s successful 2032 Games bid, that Northshore Hamilton would be used for a 14,000-bed athletes village.

The site would include a mixture of housing and commercial properties after the Games, as well as housing pop-up sites during the sporting event.

How the Athletes Village could look. Image: State Government

Since the PDA was declared landmarks such as Portside, Eat Street Markets, Alcyone Hotel and some of Brisbane’s best waterfront homes have sprung up on the site, which has 3km of river frontage.

The Athletes’ Village will host more than 10,000 athletes and team officials for the Olympic Games and more than 5000 for the Paralympics.

The Village will be constructed on Economic Development Queensland-owned land within the Northshore Hamilton Priority Development Area (PDA).

“Northshore’s prime waterfront location, proximity to the CBD and competition and training venues, let alone transport connections, make it an ideal location – even after the Games are over,’’ the Government’s Northshore website read.

“Post the Games, Northshore will deliver a diverse residential offering, including aged care, retirement living social and affordable housing, key worker, hotel, build-to-rent and market accommodation.’’

Buildings, spaces and facilities could be used for a range of activities in the lead-up to the Games to familiarise people with the area, Land Partners said.

They might include boxing or wrestling contests, displays or exhibitions, cinemas and even a circus with “associated entertainment, training and classes’’.

Cirque du Soleil has previously used Northshore when it has visited Brisbane.

Francis Jalbert at the raising of Cirque du Soleil's iconic blue and yellow big top at Northshore Hamilton in 2015. Picture: Tara Croser

Land Partners also suggested buildings constructed for the athletes could be used in the lead-up to the Games for a drive-in theatre, theatre and theatre restaurant, reception lounges and venues for weddings, birthdays and parties.

Fetes, fairs, flea markets and markets could be held regularly and live artist, indoor and outdoor concerts could become a frequent attraction.

There might even be scope for mini golf, a skating rink including ice skating, roller derby, parkour, skateboarding, blokarting or a zoo or park.

Where some of the activity, ahead of the 2032 Games, could be sited.

Land Partners said the Games facility could also host food, wine or cultural festivals, art exhibitions, trade shows and ten-pin bowling.

Pop up glamping, an urban microbrewery, winery or distillery were other ideas.

Eat Street Market has proved a massive hit with locals since it moved from its original site to Northshore Hamilton in 2017, while Flipside Circus more recently announced it would open a custom-built youth circus training facility there.

A river walk, pedestrian pathways and a beach and cafe have also been well received in recent times.

Planners the Saunders Havill Group said the sought to “activate the area through the use of public spaces and repurposing of existing buildings’’.

“The anticipation is that community goodwill will build, prospective investors will gain confidence, and vibrant people places will result,” it said.