Brisbane 2032 Olympics: Lord Mayor’s warning over wasted days
Brisbane’s Olympic Games head start has slipped through its fingers and the city must move quickly to avoid squandering its opportunity, the city’s Lord Mayor says.
Brisbane Olympics 2032
Don't miss out on the headlines from Brisbane Olympics 2032. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Brisbane’s Olympic Games head start has slipped through its fingers and the city must move quickly to avoid squandering the last chance to create a legacy from the global event, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner says.
In a keynote address to the Committee for Brisbane’s lunch on Wednesday, Mr Schrinner drew gasps when he noted it had been 1135 days since Queensland won the 2032 Games.
He argued the state government’s decision-making process had been “off the rails”.
“That’s quite a shocking figure to think that we had the longest period of time that any city has been given a head start and some of that has slipped through our fingers,” he said.
“We need to do better. What we’ve got at the moment and the discussion around the Olympics and legacy is undercooked and we’re not making the most of the opportunity ahead of us.”
Mr Schrinner praised the pragmatic approach to infrastructure by Premier Steven Miles, with the pair joining forces to lobby for a bold extension to Brisbane Metro.
Mr Schrinner said that along with quality Games venues, a well-connected city would see Brisbane’s 2032 Games rival the best in the world.
“It’ll be different, but we need to make it good different, and not in the Aldi way,” he said.
Plans for a $450m Brisbane Metro Gabba Station – the centrepiece of the 2022 City Deal between three levels of government – has been scrapped in favour of extending the metro to Carseldine, Capalaba and Springwood.
“There’s an opportunity now to redirect that funding to expanding the metro to more parts of the region,” Mr Schrinner said.
The cost of building the Gabba interchange would have likely risen to between $600m and $800m if it was to be built today.
The Gabba Metro Station was poised to transform the Woolloongabba precinct and connect commuters to the Cross River Rail station, with council and state and federal governments contributing $150m each.
The state and local governments are seeking federal government support to deliver a rapid business case for the metro expansion plan.
Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King will need to sign off on redirecting Commonwealth funds.
Mr Schrinner said he and Premier Steven Miles had been in talks with Ms King and were “pretty close”.
“The minister … has been receptive to those discussions,” he said.
Discussions about how Brisbane Metro will service the government’s chosen Olympic and Paralympic venue for 2032, the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre in Nathan, are yet to be had,
“Obviously we stand ready to work with the government when it comes to major games venues and how the transport will work,” Mr Schrinner said.
More Coverage
Big question that remains over civic leaders’ luxe Paris stay
What is yet to be fully explained to ratepayers who picked up the travel bill for civic leaders to visit Paris is the most important thing, writes the editor.
Why the Northside Olympic stadium won’t flood
The team behind the Northshore stadium development have hit back at naysayers’ claims about the costs, flood problems and transport woes and laid out the full incredible plan.