Olympic and Paralympic Minister Tim Mander reveals why Toowoomba will host Olympic equestrian events

Toowoomba faced some stiff competition from the Gold Coast and Brisbane in its drive to get a piece of the Olympic pie. Now a prominent figure has revealed our key difference.

Tim Mander MP pictured at the Howard Smith Wharves for the announcement of the Brisbane Olympics 2032 venues and infrastructure, Brisbane 25th March 2025. (Image/Josh Woning)

Toowoomba won its place in the 2032 Olympics games because it was the only plan that promised legacy infrastructure to serve the next generation of athletes.

Over the next four years, the Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland will spend about $60-70 million revamping the Toowoomba Showgrounds, building new stables, all-weather playing surfaces, two quarantine centres and improved roads and drainage.

The project is one the dozens announced by the Queensland Government on Tuesday after it released the venue plan for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

While the RNA was rumoured to be well placed to host the equestrian event, Olympic and Paralympic Minister Tim Mander said Toowoomba’s proposal was the only one to offer legacy value.

Toowoomba Olympics explainer: Your questions answered on 2032 equestrian

“There was going to be no real permanent presence at the RNA grounds. It was to be a site for the Olympics, where now will have ongoing legacy in one our a regional cities,” he said

“There is no more logical place than to have one here in Toowoomba.

“Wellcamp Airport is a fantastic advantage, there is no doubt about that, that will help with transporting people and goods.”

Mr Mander was in Toowoomba on Friday for the opening of the Toowoomba Royal Show where he revealed more details about how the games would change our city.

“The other benefit to the city is that athletes will have to be housed and we are looking at legacy there as well,” he said.

“We all know there is a housing shortage and this is a great catalyst to build some accommodation for athletes, they are there for a few weeks and then afterwards we have permanent accommodation.

“We will have major athletes’ villages and then satellite villages near each of the venues.

“We fully expect there will be some sort of accommodation here that will provide for the athletes.”

RASQ CEO Damon Phillips has told the Chronicle the Toowoomba proposal would cost between $60-70 million and will be complete by 2028.

However, Mr Mander declined to confirm the figure he has, other than to say the combined State and Federal funding agreement was $7.1 billion.

“Everything is fully funded and with the announcement we have made, everything has been kept under that cap,” he said.

“We are about to go into contract negotiation with all of the different venues, with different vendors and different builders, so we just don’t want to show our cards too early, or fully reveal what we think the estimated costs are, because that will hamper our negotiations.”

The games, which are about seven years away, will be built under the looming shadow of USA’s tariff war which is expected to put inflationary pressure on construction materials, such as steel and aluminium.

Despite this pressure, Queensland Treasurer and Toowoomba South MP David Janetzki said he would keep a close eye on the budget.

“We will start calmly and methodically going about delivering these infrastructure projects and the best thing we can do is to make sure there is accountability for tax payer money,” he said.

“As treasurer I expect every minister delivering projects to adhere to the budget, to be on time and on budget.”

Originally published as Olympic and Paralympic Minister Tim Mander reveals why Toowoomba will host Olympic equestrian events