Revealed: Brisbane Games venues which will be white elephants

BRISBANE is being warned about building “white elephants” with event venues for the 2032 Olympic Games, as speculation increases about shifting athletics from the Gabba to Carrara.

BRISBANE is being warned about building “white elephants” with event venues for the 2032 Olympic Games, as speculation increases about shifting athletics from the Gabba to Carrara.

The rebuild for the Gabba has blown out from $1bn to at least $2.5bn – for an extra 8000 seats. The Beisbane Lions AFL side and Queensland Bulls cricket teams will be without a venue during the process.

A Gold Coast City Council source says the 27,500 capacity Metricon Stadium at Carrara, which had a temporary upgrade for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, would benefit from a permanent extension. The council would be likely to contribute with funding.

The Coast could host more and larger outdoor concerts like Kiss. The Rock’n’Roll hall of fame band played in front of a packed house at Cbus Super Stadium in Robina last month, but could have catered to more fans in a bigger capacity venue.

Brisbane would still get to host the opening and closing Games ceremonies.

Mayor Tom Tate says a cost ruler must be run across all venues, which are being checked by the 2032 Olympic Games organising committee.

Screen grabs from a digital depiction of how the Gabba will be transformed for the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane.

“I have long held the view that the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics will be a wonderful showcase of human sporting endeavour but ultimately, the region’s legacy outcomes are equally important,” he said.

“Partnering with the state government, we achieved wonderful legacy outcomes from the 2018 Commonwealth Games – the GC Aquatic Centre, Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre at Carrara, Coomera Indoor Sports Centre, a huge boost to our city’s volunteering ranks as well as fantastic community infrastructure including cycleways, CCTV technology and halls.

“We delivered GC2018 on time, on budget and most importantly, we established future city assets in the right location.”

Cr Tate said he told the OCOG (Olympic Committee) last week about Gold Coast achieving 1.1 million visitors a year at Coomera and Carrara, which delivers $20 million per annum of economic benefit to the city.

“Money must be invested where it will deliver maximum return for the community for two decades, not two weeks,” Mr Tate said.

“There are no white elephants on the Gold Coast. That is the challenge for the 2032 board.”

The Bulletin understands the Olympic organising committee is due to the visit the Coast early next year and the location of some events remains in play.

Celia Sullohern (left) and Eloise Wellings of Australia compete in the Women's 5000m Final on day ten of the XXI Commonwealth Games, at Carrara Stadium (AAP Image/Dean Lewins)

A council insider said: “The Gabba spend is $2.5 billion, there’s $150 million to build white water rafting at Birkdale. There’s an upgrade of a golf course in Brisbane.

“These are potential white elephants. We are the golfing capital of Australia and have golf courses that are fit to go. Council wants a ruler has to be put across all the Olympic and ParaOlympic costs.”

Coast leaders are expected to tell committee chair Andrew Liveris that the Coast has much less debt than Brisbane City and can spend money on minor upgrades to 2018 Commonwealth Games infrastructure.

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