Former Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk to lead landmark 2032 Games review

Steven Miles has admitted the state government may have made a mistake in signing off on a complete Gabba rebuild, with all options back on the table. HAVE YOUR SAY

• Opinion: Miles’ poisoned chalice

Premier Steven Miles has admitted the state government may have “got that wrong” in signing off on a complete knockdown and rebuild of the Gabba, as he declared all options were back on the table.

Mr Miles was flanked by former Lord Mayor Graham Quirk on Thursday as he revealed more details about the independent 60-day review of Olympic and Paralympic venues Mr Quirk would lead.

Mr Quirk was on Thursday revealed to be the man behind a two-month review examining whether existing Games venues represent the best value for money options for taxpayers.

Independent adviser Ken Kanofski and experienced global partnerships expert Michelle Morris have also been appointed to assist Mr Quirk.

Premier Steven Miles speaks to the media in Brisbane on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

The infrastructure review will reconsider the controversial $2.7bn Gabba demolition and rebuild, Brisbane Arena development and the program of new and upgraded minor sports venues across the southeast.

The Premier was this morning left to defend why he ever signed off on the $2.7bn Gabba rebuild project as Infrastructure Minister - confirmed less than two months ago - saying that was the “advice that I had received at the time”.

“There were several stages through last year when I sent my department out and said ‘find me new options’, and the options that came back were not as good,” he said.

“I’m hopeful that this independent review process is a fresh set of eyes, with a very specific focus on value for money, that can come back to us with options or with an option that is better value for money.”

The Premier said he hoped the review would find an alternative to completely rebuilding the Gabba, but said if not and it remained the “best option”, he hoped “everybody accepts that outcome.”

Steven Miles with Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, Minister for State Development and Infrastructure Grace Grace and former Lord Mayor Graham Quirk. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

He also admitted the impact a rebuild of the Gabba would have on both AFL and cricket – an issue which came to an explosive head in December – had been a “significant consideration” in looking for an alternative.

“The impact on those sports and those teams is very significant,” Mr Miles said.

“If there is an alternative which doesn’t dislocate them, or doesn’t dislocate them for so long, then that would be a really good outcome.

“I’m happy to acknowledge, willing to acknowledge, that we underestimated the impact of this on those codes and on those teams.

“And that’s one of the things that has led me to make this decision to review the plan.

“I think it’s a good thing that a leader is willing to say ‘maybe we got that wrong’, ‘can someone else take a look’. And that’s what I’m doing.”

The Premier also said he had long held concerns about the multibillion-dollar cost of the rebuild, but refused to say whether former Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk had pressured him to sign off on the project.

“I’m not going to get into those kinds of internal discussions,” he said.

Mr Quirk said he would not be asking for an extension to the 60-day deadline, saying he was mindful that the “clock was ticking” in the lead-up to the 2032 Games.

Former lord mayor Graham Quirk. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Findings will be provided to State Development and Infrastructure Minister Grace Grace on March 18.

“We want to deliver a 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games that brings Queenslanders

together and creates legacy benefits for decades to come,” Mr Miles said overnight.

“The Games are a chance for us to unite, but it has become divisive.

“I’m determined to end the division and bring people together, which is why I’ve committed to this 60-day review and establishing a delivery authority.”

Mr Miles, who when asked on Wednesday about the $2.7bn Gabba demolition admitted he was “concerned about that cost”, said Mr Quirk was the right man for the job.

“Graham Quirk enjoys great community respect and oversaw the development of the pre-feasibility and feasibility studies for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” he said.

“We’re going to deliver value-for-money Games venues which benefit Queenslanders long after the Games are over, and the review will help us to achieve that.”

Renders of the Gabba Stadium released under the Palaszczuk government. Source: Queensland Government

Mr Quirk, a former LNP lord mayor, acknowledged the significance of his work.

“I am looking forward to working on the review with my fellow reviewers and meeting with stakeholders to capture their views,” he said.

“This is important work for all Queenslanders which I am pleased to be a part of, having been involved from the inception of the idea of hosting the Games.”

Mr Miles also revealed an independent delivery authority for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which former Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk opposed, would be operational towards the middle of this year.

Changes adopted following the infrastructure review will require organising committee and federal government approval.

It will not consider temporary venues nor the behemoth press and broadcast centres slated for South Bank.

The review will take into account project validation reports – such as the one justified in recommending the demolition of the Gabba – already completed.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner told ABC Radio on Thursday morning the appointment of Mr Quirk had his “full support”.

“We need to get the Games on track and we need to remember what this was really about in the first place, this was always about the legacy of better transport that we can get for our whole region and, sadly, it became about high-price stadiums,” he said.

Mr Schrinner noted the announcement of the review was “just the first step”, with the fate of venues and location of sports needing to be determined.

“The Games effectively became, it was the Olympic Games that turned into the political games, it was controlled by one person, the Premier - that sent it off track, we need to get it back on track,” he said.

Premier Steven Miles will launch the review on Thursday.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate told The Courier-Mail on Thursday that he also welcomed the Olympics venues review.

“I have reiterated the importance of value for money and legacy from day one, so I am heartened to see those aspects as part of the key criteria,” he said.

“The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games delivered outstanding legacy for our city, and I have no doubt the Gold Coast’s legacy assets have a significant role to play in delivering an amazing 2032 Olympic Games.

“We must get this right for all of Queensland. The two weeks of sport will be wonderful but the legacy, if done right, can deliver generational benefits.”

The LNP this week warned Mr Miles was preparing to walk away from the complete demolition and rebuild of the Gabba championed by his predecessor Ms Palaszczuk and supported by him while deputy premier.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli on Wednesday noted the government was “shopping around” cancelling the Gabba demolition.

“We’ve said from day one that project didn’t have our support because the local community hadn’t been consulted, the sporting groups hadn’t been consulted, there was no business case done – they took it from $1bn to $2.7bn,” he said.

The winning option will have also have a 6-star sustainability rating, have larger concourses for general admission, and include better viewing for a 360-degree fan experience.

Supplied artist impression of the proposed Gabba redevelopment.

Separately, the board of Brisbane Strikers Football Club on Wednesday revealed it had submitted a proposal to the Brisbane City Council to seek its support in upgrading the 5000-seat Perry Park ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games.

The success of the Matildas last year raised questions about the legacy the Games would leave football compared to cricket and the AFL.

Brisbane Strikers said it was calling for a new 10,000-seat boutique football stadium at the Bowen Hills ground, which it said was the sport’s “spiritual home” in Queensland.

Community, Arts and Nighttime Economy civic cabinet chair Vicki Howard said the council’s focus was on other priorities.

“While we support Brisbane having another boutique rectangular stadium in the long term, right now we are focused on keeping costs down, building better transport, incentivising housing and investing in our suburbs,” she said.

Renders of the Gabba Stadium ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Source: Queensland Government