Qld Budget 2023: Treasurer delivers for major 2032 plans

Brisbane’s 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games venues got a $1.9bn boost through to 2026-27 in Tuesday’s budget, with $67.7m expected to be spent on projects next year alone.

Brisbane’s 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games venues got a $1.9bn boost through to 2026-27 in Tuesday’s budget, with $67.7m expected to be spent on projects next year.

While detailed breakdowns on exactly how much each venue will cost taxpayers remains largely unknown, the cash comes after the state and the federal government agreed on a 50:50 Games funding model in February.

This included mapping a $7.1bn Games venues infrastructure program consisting of a $2.7bn Gabba redevelopment, a $2.5bn Brisbane Arena development, and $1.9bn on a minor venues program for new and upgraded sites across the state.

But the budget also confirmed cash allocation to venues was still yet to be determined, with the papers stating “the allocation of funding for specific venues projects will be subject to government investment decisions following completion of project assessment activities”.

A further $100.3m will be delivered over the next four years to the Brisbane 2032 Coordination Office – including $36.8m in 2023-24 – which the government said would oversee key aspects for the Games including “planning and designing infrastructure like venues and athletes’ villages, as well as transport, environment, legacy, First Nations and security”.

$2.7bn is allocated for the Gabba redevelopments.

“The Coordination Office will also work closely with the Organising Committee for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games to ensure Government meets its contractual commitments to the International Olympic Committee,” the budget paper stated.

And while the state was still waiting on the federal government to match its commitment, $44m was also set aside to be “held centrally pending finalisation of funding agreements” for a new, world-first Paralympic Centre of Excellence at the University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus – the flagship pledge of the Games Legacy Forum held earlier this year.

There is money set aside for a $2.5bn Brisbane Arena development.

A further $154.7 million over four years was also slated from 2024–25 for Economic Development Queensland to deliver public infrastructure to facilitate the development of services and land for the Brisbane Athlete Village, set to be built at Northshore Hamilton.

The state will also cough up $20m to relocate the Racing Science Centre to make way for the Games, with the current Albion site set to become home to the Breakfast Creek Sports Precinct.