2032 Olympics: Councillor Dan Doran on potential Robina athletes village

A southern Gold Coast councillor says Robina could benefit from not having a 2032 Olympics athletes village in its suburb, giving the City more time to focus on fixing key issues in the area. Read why

Robina is poised for a “golden age” with its athletes village site prime for residential and commercial redevelopment if the 2032 Games infrastructure fails to go ahead, says Councillor Dan Doran.

Mr Doran said he had detailed months ago if the State Government was going to proceed with the Village “don’t do it on the cheap, do it right”.

“Either way the future will be a golden age for Robina,” he told the Bulletin after Tuesday’s announcement of key Games sites were unveiled.

City sources suggest both Robina and the Royal Pines will be needed to house athletes and officials at two villages.

Hockey being played on the Gold Coast for the Olympics will see at least 384 players along with more than 150 officials and trainers creating a “very large cohort”.

Premier David Crisafulli 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

Mayor Tom Tate late on Tuesday indicated he expected the two sites to be used for villages.

Mr Doran said if the Government opted for only an Athlete’s Village at Royal Pines, it would provide the City with time to further consider the future of the Robina precinct.

“The City is undertaking working on a new planning scheme and this includes a review of the future of Robina,” he said.

“We can now undertake this work without the time pressures created by an Olympic commitment and ensure we get it right.

“Traffic congestion and transport solutions remain the key issues in Robina regardless of whether there is an Athletes’ Village here or not. The catalyst for that golden age for Robina is east/west public transport connections that can create a high frequency public transport alternative which can connect the centre of Robina with our coastal corridor.

Councillor Dan Doran says the future will be a ‘golden age’ for Robina.

“Improving public transport infrastructure would also help to unlock the enormous opportunity that Robina presents in solving the City’s dire need for more commercial office space.

“The growth projections for the City is we are likely to hit a population of one million people in 2046 and that comes with a need to create around 175,000 new jobs.

“Assuming 20 per cent of these are white collar office jobs, that equates to around 35,000 jobs needing 350,000 square metres of new commercial office space noting the current total market size is 460,000 square metres,” he said.

Based on typical delivery of 5000 to 8000 square metre mid-rise buildings, this would require 45 to 70 new office buildings.

“Robina can play a major role as the location for new commercial office space and become the true commercial heart of the Gold Coast. We can create a variety of housing types for all ages, more local jobs and improved east/west public transport,” Mr Doran said.

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Originally published as 2032 Olympics: Councillor Dan Doran on potential Robina athletes village