2032 Olympic Games: Gold Coast councillor Dan Doran backs Robina Athlete’s Village proposal

A Gold Coast councillor has backed a proposed multi-tower Olympics development but has warned it has to be “done well, or not at all.” FIND OUT WHY

Local councillor Dan Doran has warned that there will need to be “significant” investment into roads at Robina if a proposed Olympic Games Athletes’ Village is to go ahead.

The village is earmarked for a site on Collyer Quays and Robina Town Centre Drive and will feature numerous high-rise towers, plus a green bridge connecting with Cheltenham Drive across Mudgeeraba Creek.

Mr Doran said he wanted to see the village go ahead, but he insisted it had to unlock investment in the area’s traffic-clogged roads, including badly-needed upgrades to M1 exits.

The proposed village at Robina.

“If there is a decision to proceed with the Games village in Robina, it must come with extensive investment into the local transport network with immediate attention paid to upgrading Exits 79 and 82,” he said.

“Without these important upgrades there is a real risk that spectators, or even athletes, could be held up in traffic and not make their events in time and these necessary upgrades also align with the Queensland government’s desire to leave a lasting infrastructure legacy from the 2032 Games.

“A beautifully designed and delivered Olympic Village with an eye to future use following the Games, and with upgrades to Exits 79 and 82, would leave an incredibly positive lasting legacy on the Gold Coast from the 2032 Games.

“But a village in that prime location, delivered on the cheap and with no road infrastructure upgrades would be something Robina can do without.”

Dan Doran. Picture: Portia Large.

If built the Robina athletes’ village will have room for more than 2500 competitors.

It is tipped to become low-cost housing following the completion of the Paralympics.

The future of the Robina village will be determined in the state government’s 100-day review of Olympics infrastructure.

Submissions for the review close on Friday, with the Gold Coast submitting its proposals this week.

Mayor Tom Tate on Wednesday confirmed he still wanted the Robina project to be built after proposing earlier in the week that the Gold Coast should host more sports during the 2032 event.

The towers are expected to become low-cost housing after the Games.

However he also suggested that existing hotel resorts would be best used to host athletes rather than further purpose-built accommodation.

“I am not proposing that the Robina Olympic Village be scrapped,” he said.

“My proposal is that overflow athlete accommodation could be provided at Gold Coast hotels and resorts, just as we did for the AFL hubs during Covid.”

Mr Tate has made a submission to the state government’s 100-day review and insists his ideas would save up to $5bn.

The review, which was an election commitment by the LNP, is looking at the venues and infrastructure rollout for the Games.

The future site of the Olypmic Games Athletes Village at Robina. Picture: Tertius Pickard

It is expected to come back with its results during the first half of the year.

Mr Tate’s 32-page submission also pitches putting a roof over the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre at Southport to host swimming.

The roof, which he said would be similar to that of the shade sails atop the Marina Mirage Shopping Centre, would cost around $150m and would also allow the venue to have 10,000 seats.

A Crisafulli Government spokeswoman said the review’s results would inform the future of the event’s infrastructure.

“The 100-day review is currently underway with Queenslanders invited to provide their ideas and feedback for consideration by the Games independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority,” she said.

“The Authority will report back with an implementation plan with venues, transport athlete villages and Games precincts.”