‘Rewriting history’: Schrinner adamant new stadium was always planned

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has ramped up his call for Brisbane to have better stadiums as a lasting legacy of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

As the new LNP government prepares to launch its 100-day review of Games venues, Schrinner wants all options considered – including the original proposal for an Olympic stadium at Albion.

He made the comments at a Brisbane City Council meeting on Tuesday, after Premier David Crisafulli declined to say what the review would encompass.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner (right) with Andrew Liveris, president of the Brisbane Organising Committee for the 2032 Olympic Games.Credit: Brisbane Times

“What’s my opinion on Olympic stadiums? We want the best legacy outcome for Brisbane, that’s my position,” the LNP lord mayor told an at-times rowdy council meeting.

“Where will that be? I have an idea on where it might land. It won’t be at QSAC.”

While Crisafulli has also ruled out the former Labor government’s plan for an athletics stadium at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre, he has left the remaining options open to speculation.

Visiting Townsville on Tuesday, Crisafulli again refused to clarify whether his “no new stadiums” pledge ruled out private sector proposals for greenfield sites, or a complete, multibillion-dollar rebuild of the Gabba, as was previously planned.

With the terms of reference for the review yet to be released, Crisafulli told journalists he loved the fact people were talking about the need for “generational infrastructure”.

“There will be a plan that turns around the sense of embarrassment that Queenslanders are feeling,” he promised.

Schrinner said the Gabba – which the former government opted not to rebuild due to public concerns over the cost – still needed work, and Brisbane “needs an oval stadium” for AFL and cricket.

“There’s reporting floating around saying the Gabba will reach the end of its life by 2030, so I guess the question is do we just get rid of our oval stadium and not have another one?”

Schrinner reiterated “all options need to be on the table”.

“Read my lips, all options,” he told City Hall.

“That includes ‘is there a better way to do the Gabba’, because the previous option was costly and disruptive. There’s got to be a better way. Is there a better way?

“Victoria Park needs to be on the table, and Hamilton Northshore, and, while you’re looking, have a look at Albion again because that was the original proposal.”

Since Brisbane’s bid for the Games was floated, Albion has gone from having the main stadium to no venues at all.

The review conducted by former LNP lord mayor Graham Quirk for the Labor government proposed a new oval stadium at Victoria Park – only for then premier Steven Miles to opt for QSAC instead, with some money left over to refurbish the Gabba and Suncorp Stadium.

QSAC would have had some temporary seating, but would revert to a suburban athletics venue after the Games. It was the preferred option of Australian Olympics powerbroker John Coates, in line with the “New Norm” policy meant to prevent host cities from being left with expensive but underutilised facilities.

Coates has expressed his views to Crisafulli but not revealed them publicly.

Schrinner rejected claims the LNP would be breaking a promise if it built a new stadium, saying that had always been factored into the plan for Brisbane 2032.

“A main stadium was always part of the agenda to be built,” he said.

“There’s a bit of rewriting of history here, with people saying we never had to build a new stadium. Rubbish. It was always part of the arrangement.

“We need to make sure this is done with independence and rigour.”

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