Stadium Metro option to be considered in search for Games legacy

The Queensland government will investigate a Griffith University proposal to run high-frequency Metro services into its Nathan campus and the nearby stadium that is set to be upgraded to host athletics at the 2032 Games.

The idea has come from Griffith University’s Cities Research Institute, which specialises in urban planning problem-solving, as Premier Steven Miles defends his choice of the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre as a key Games venue.

Griffith University has suggested the Metro could connect to QSAC via University Road to the north, rather than Mains Road to the east or Kessels Road to the south.

Miles last month abandoned the government’s planned Gabba rebuild, and rejected an independent proposal for a new stadium at Victoria Park, to instead redevelop QSAC at a cost of $1.6 billion.

While Miles said he was motivated by the desire to reduce the overall cost of hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games, his choice of QSAC has been criticised for the lack of public transport connections and the limited long-term legacy of the project.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner - who belatedly gave his support to the Victoria Park option - has left it to the government to solve the transport problems with QSAC. He suggested it would cost $500 million to build connections without disrupting busy Mains Road.

Griffith University and Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre at Mount Gravatt.Credit: Tony Moore

But Cities Research Institute transport expert Professor Matthew Burke said it would be cheaper and easier to run the Metro from the South East Busway, 300 metres along an existing bus lane on University Road, and into the campus.

“There is no crazy over-infrastructure along Mains Road,” Burke said.

“So we save hundreds of million of dollars from what the lord mayor had suggested.”

Burke said using the Metro - capable of carrying 170 people at a time, with services every 15 minutes - would assist the 13,000 students at the campus, support the Games, and boost public transport options for the QEII Jubilee Hospital.

The second track at QSAC, next to the stadium, would provide a more convenient warm-up track for Games competitors than was planned under the Gabba rebuild option.Credit: Tony Moore

While it would require existing carparks to be converted to Metro stations, he expected a corresponding reduction in cars. The closest bus transit hub is currently 3 km away, while the closest rail station (either Banoon or Altandi) is 2 km away.

“We would have a transport legacy from the Games,” Burke said.

“There is almost no transport legacy which has been promised thus far.”

State Development Minister Grace Grace said all options would be considered to make the Games a success and provide a legacy for the community.

“This includes legacy transport opportunities between QSAC, the QEII Hospital and Griffith University and connected precincts in the city,” Grace said.

Grace said work had started on a business case for the QSAC upgrade and broader works, which would require extensive consultation with stakeholders.

Griffith University’s Vice Chancellor Carolyn Evans said the campus, QSAC and the hospital were “underserved by current public transport options”.

“A well-connected precinct offers the community an opportunity to engage with a leading tertiary institution, an expanding hospital service and a sporting facility they can be proud of,” Evans said.

Cindy Hook, the chief executive of the Brisbane Organising Committee, inspected QSAC this week with several staff. While she declined to be interviewed about the Metro proposal, she said “all good ideas are welcomed”.

The walkway between Griffith University and Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre at Mt Gravatt would need to be widened.Credit: Tony Moore

While the surrounding koala habitat had been cited as an impediment to upgrading QSAC, Burke suggested only a small number of trees would need to be removed to widen walkways to the stadium.

“At the corner where the cemetery, Griffith University and QSAC converge we have an existing car park that is already levelled, already graded, already had the trees removed - so there is no big koala habitat loss concerns that that people have raised,” he said.

The Metro, a $1.8 billion initiative from Schrinner’s LNP council, is due to commence services later this year. There are already plans to extend the network.

Victoria Park would have had a nearby Metro station and utilise the Ekka train station. The Gabba, which will now be refurbished rather than rebuilt, will have new Cross River Rail and Metro stations across the road.