Gold Coast selects three venues which could host top sports at the 2032 Games for cheaper cost

The Gold Coast will pitch three venues which could host some of the top sports in the 2032 Olympic Games. Find out which ones

The Gold Coast will pitch Carrara for athletics and cricket, Southport with its swimming pool and Labrador for hockey as alternative Olympic venues.

Mayor Tom Tate in a mayoral minute at full council on Thursday sought backing from councillors for CEO Tim Baker to make the submission to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games infrastructure review.

The Mayor received super majority support but faced questions from William Owen-Jones and Hermann Vorster about future costs and an “infrastructure ask” of the state government.

Cr Owen-Jones backed the Mayor’s recommendations but admitted to having reservations about upgrades including a roof on the aquatic centre at Southport.

Cr Vorster abstained from voting, saying he could not support the plan because he believed it did not force the government to lower overall costs and guarantee infrastructure.

Mayor Tom Tate preparing submission on Olympic Games. Picture: Liam Kidston.

Cr Daphne McDonald was the only councillor to vote against the City making an Olympic venue submission, but she did not speak during debate.

Mr Tate said he would be seeking “100 per cent funding” from the state if upgrades to Coast venues for the Games were temporary.

“If it is a lot of money, we have to have a rethink at council,” he said.

Mr Tate said he would welcome future investment from the government into its asset at Heritage Stadium in Carrara.

Before the vote, he told councillors: “Let’s have a crack at it.”

In the mayoral minute, he said the venues were “in excellent condition” and “for a fraction of the investment” could be upgraded compared to their Brisbane alternatives.

Mr Tate said it was clear there was a major rethink about demolishing and rebuilding the Gabba where $2.7 billion would fund 8000 extra seats.

FThe Gold Coast Aquatic Centre at Southport being prepared for Commonwealth Games.

A temporary pool would be built at the Brisbane Live site, whereas the Southport Aquatic Centre, which hosted the 2018 Commonwealth Games events, was highly rated by Olympic swimmers and officials.

“These (Brisbane) projects are currently estimated to cost a combined $5 billion and it is my firm view that the real price tag for these projects, if they were both to be built, would end up north of $7 billion,” he said.

Mr Tate said it was essential the Coast make a formal submission given “our superb legacy assets” from the Commonwealth Games. Other venues and sports would be considered.

He said the 2032 Olympic bid book was pulled together in haste and since then inflation along with supply constraints had made construction more expensive.

“Better use of Gold Coast assets can remove billions of dollars of expense and significantly derisk the delivery of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games to the benefit of all taxpayers and ratepayers,” he said.

Carrara Stadium being prepared for the Commonwealth Games.

The Government this month launched a 60-day “value for money” review of Games infrastructure to determine whether the existing plan for the 2032 event in southeast Queensland is the best use of taxpayers’ funds.

The review will be led by former Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk.

Premier Steven Miles has admitted he was concerned about the cost of the Gabba project.

“My preference is to find a better value-for-money outcome, that has always been my preference,” he said, when the review was launched.

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