Brisbane 2032: Premier stands behind Gabba as centrepiece stadium

The Premier says she is “100 per cent committed to the Gabba” as the Brisbane 2032 Games centrepiece, despite recent concerns and protests from sections of the community over cost blowouts.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has declared “we are 100 per cent committed to the Gabba”, dispelling concerns the Olympic organising committee would be forced to consider another central venue for Brisbane 2032.

Demolishing and rebuilding the iconic venue was the centrepiece of the city’s hosting bid but recent reports of the development costing more than double the initial estimate of $1 billion had triggered protests from sections of the community.

Various alternatives have been floated by pundits, including re-using the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games venue, Metricon Stadium, as well as building a new sports facility at Albion in the city’s inner north.

Ms Palaszczuk said details of the cost were currently being considered but declared her support for a rebuilt Gabba, which she said was in the “perfect location”.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says the Gabba is the perfect location. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Josh Woning

“The department of infrastructure is doing some costings on what the Gabba will look like,” she told reporters on Friday morning.

She said the state government will then consider the expense through its capital budget review committee before briefing the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympic Games Committee (OCOG) president Andrew Liveris.

The Premier said the stadium location was a “signature part of our presentation” to the International Olympic Committee in Tokyo.

“It fits with everything,” Ms Palaszczuk said. “Structurally, it is right next to our Cross River Rail – the underground that we are building underneath our city at the moment to the tune of $5.6 billion.

Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympic Games Committee president Andrew Liveris wants the stadium and South Bank to be a thriving hub.

“The fact that people will be able to walk from South Bank to the Gabba, it is the perfect location.

“But we are doing that detailed costing now, as you would expect for us to do.”

Mr Liveris this week reiterated his desire to focus the Games at the Gabba, which he said “done right” correlates with the legacy of the major sporting event, “building a centre of gravity for the city way beyond the Olympics and Paralympics”.

“I love the notion that our river and our South Bank and our Gabba and all that becomes a hub and hive for arts, culture, sports, and people,” Mr Liveris said.

On Friday, the Brisbane 2032 boss said the IOC wants to use Brisbane as the Games to move away from a central city style event, and instead incorporate regional areas to share in the economic benefits of hosting and transforming cities and towns.

“We are going to set the standard for what the Olympics will be going forward, and that is an exciting opportunity,” Mr Liveris said.

Australian Olympic Committee president Ian Chesterman said it was critical the hosting region viewed the event as a “10 plus 10” opportunity, to ensure there is economic, social and sport development value for the decade before the Games and the decade following.

Mr Liveris described this phrase as “amazingly powerful”.

“The Premier gave an anecdote the other day about a visit to Thursday Island and Ian gave an anecdote about seeing a young basketball player, an 11 year old, alongside Patty Mills,” he said.

“I get goosebumps thinking about the youth that are 10 or 11 now and how they will participate in these regional Games.”