Brisbane 2032 Olympics row: Brisbane tells Gold Coast hands off events

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has promised to fight “tooth and nail” against the Gold Coast’s threats to steal 2032 Games events, including swimming, from Brisbane. VOTE IN OUR POLL

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner

• Lord Mayor: Swimming is ours

A new inner-city entertainment centre – Brisbane Arena – must be built in time for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games or the city will miss out on a critical entertainment legacy, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has warned.

The Lord Mayor has promised to fight “tooth and nail” against the Gold Coast’s threats to steal some marquee 2032 events from Brisbane, fearing the loss of swimming in particular would allow the state government to walk away from plans to build the $2.5bn arena.

This would leave the city saddled with the outdated existing Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Boondall, a venue Cr Schrinner said was long past its use-by date, as shown by fans of Canadian rapper Drake being forced to “wee in the bushes” and wait for hours in the carpark before his show on Monday night.

“To have an inner-city venue means that people can do things before and after the event – it generates jobs, it generates economic activity,” Mr Schrinner told a council meeting on Tuesday.

“When it comes to legacy … everyone agrees it will be delivered through Brisbane Arena. And if the swimming is held somewhere else other than Brisbane, that legacy is lost to the people of Brisbane and South East Queensland.”

There are increasing concerns rising construction costs means the $7.1bn allocated 50-50 by the state and federal governments two years ago for 2032 Games venues is no longer enough.

That could lead to the state deciding it cannot afford to build both a new stadium and the arena, which is proposed for Roma Street Parkland.

The arena is fully funded by a $2.5bn federal contribution.

The state government’s 100-day independent venues review was due to hand its draft to Infrastructure Minister Jarrod Bleijie at the weekend, and the final report on March 8. Mr Bleijie has repeatedly said the government’s decision on the venues plan will be announced at The Courier-Mail’s Future Brisbane lunch on March 25.

Mr Schrinner said it was vital the city had a world-class mid-sized entertainment venue in the inner city, which was what Brisbane Arena would provide once the 2032 Games were over and the drop-in pool was removed.

While he congratulated Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate on his advocacy to get swimming and other venues moved to the Coast, Mr Schrinner noted the long-time mayor was an early Games sceptic.

He said Mr Tate had now changed his tune as he had seen the benefits that would flow from the Games.

Mr Schrinner said if Brisbane Arena was up and running now, then Drake fans this week would have had bars and restaurants in which to wait until the performer finally came on stage, hours late.

Acting Gold Coast mayor Donna Gates leapt to the defence of Mr Tate, who is overseas on leave.

“All we are trying to do is be efficient with taxpayer and ratepayer money,” she said.”

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate

Originally published as Brisbane 2032 Olympics row: Brisbane tells Gold Coast hands off events