Lord Mayor says Victoria Park must be considered in Olympic venue review

The new independent Olympic infrastructure review must consider Victoria Park, the lord mayor said as Queensland’s new premier confirmed the Brisbane 2032 stadium debate would be finally put to rest in about four months’ time.

Premier David Crisafulli said the clock would start ticking on his promised 100-day review sometime next month, when the board of the independent Olympic infrastructure delivery authority was constituted.

“That’s a lot of work to do in a short period of time, but it’s important that we put a road map forward, and within that 100 days, you’re going to get something that Queenslanders are proud of,” he said.

Premier David Crisafulli says the 100-day review into Olympic venues will start within a month.Credit: Matt Dennien

That review should consider all options, including Victoria Park, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner told the regular Brisbane City Council meeting on Tuesday.

Crisafulli had previously said there “can’t be new stadiums” built for the Games – seemingly ruling out the park being redeveloped as the centrepiece of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and a long-term AFL and cricket venue.

In an earlier address to the council chamber, Save Victoria Park spokeswoman Sue Bremner had called on the lord mayor to “put all that speculation to rest” and declare there would not be a stadium built on the site while he was in power.

Schrinner said he could not rule anything out until the outcome of the review was known.

“However, there has been only one independent review of Olympic venues conducted [the Quirk review], and that independent review recommended Victoria Park as a location,” he said.

The proposed Victoria Park stadium precinct.Credit: Archipelago

During the council meeting, former Labor deputy mayor David Hinchliffe could be heard from the public gallery saying Schrinner’s position was an “absolute disgrace”.

“Former councillor Hinchliffe is good at opposing things, I will tell you he’s very good at that, and he’s back at it now,” Schrinner said in a delayed response.

“But I know a little bit of history and I know that sometimes people want things to happen, sometimes the wider community wants things to happen.”

Before losing power, former premier Steven Miles had settled on the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre as the main track and field venue, citing the advice of Australian Olympic supremo John Coates and rejecting former lord mayor Graham Quirk’s independent venue review that recommended Victoria Park.

On Tuesday, Coates was asked about the review, and his position on any changes to the existing plan for Games venues. He replied: “Ask the premier.”

“I’ve dropped the premier a note,” Coates said. “He knows where I stand. It’s up to him to speak on it.”

The Quirk review was commissioned after the cost of previous premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s plan to rebuild the Gabba ballooned from $1 billion to $2.7 billion.

Plans for QSAC’s planned Olympic transformation, as exclusively revealed by this masthead in July.Credit: RTI - Queensland Government

There has also been a private sector push for a new stadium at Hamilton, which would form the centrepiece of a $6 billion property development on crown land.

Schrinner said all proposals needed to be considered, but immediately rejected two of the four options that have been suggested.

“My view is that the Gabba won’t work, the Gabba won’t stack up. There’s a reason why it fell over in the first place, because it just would not work,” Schrinner said.

“We are going to see a thorough assessment of different options, including the Gabba, including QSAC – I can tell you that definitely won’t work, I think everyone agrees that won’t work – but this process needs to happen.”

Federal Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather on Monday warned any return to the Gabba would be vigorously opposed by his party and the community.

The premier brushed that aside on Tuesday.

“I’m not overly worried about what his commentary is, I’m worried about what Queenslanders think,” Crisafulli said.

“I want Queenslanders to know that that independent infrastructure authority is what we’ve always said needed to happen, and there will be people ... who have got one interest, and that is making sure that we create something that’s world-class.”

- with Sean Parnell