Brisbane Live stadium eyed for 2032 Olympics
The Brisbane Live stadium could be temporarily fitted out with a pool to host swimming events at the 2032 Olympic Games.
A proposed stadium to be built over the Roma Street railway station in inner-Brisbane could be constructed in time for the 2032 Olympic Games and would be the legacy of the event.
The Brisbane Live stadium, which would ultimately be used as a live music venue, has been discussed for several years but is yet to be fully designed or funded.
It would be built above the Roma Street train station, which is currently being remodelled as part of the Cross River Rail train line project.
It could be temporarily fitted out with a pool to host competitive swimming events at the 2032 Games, which the International Olympic Committee last week said were likely to be held in Queensland.
Speaking at the opening of the Brisbane-based Asia Pacific headquarters of architectural firm Populous, which has experience in building venues for Olympic Games, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the International Olympic Committee was adamant that any new infrastructure built for the Games must have a long-term use for the city.
“That new norm means we don’t need those big grand stadiums of the past,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“We need functioning stadiums that can be used as a legacy. That’s what we will be focusing on.
“Between 85 and 90 per cent of the venues are already in our state. We’re now doing the final masterplanning, which is the subject of the work that needs to be submitted to the Olympic Committee.”
Ms Palaszczuk said the Brisbane Live venue could be repurposed as a live music venue after the Games.
“I think Queenslanders would love a music and entertainment venue to be the legacy,” she said.
Populous Asia Pacific director Paul Henry said the company, which designed the London Olympic Stadium and Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, had added more than 100 extra jobs over the past 12 months.
He said the aim for the Games would be to “take what’s great about Brisbane and what we need in the long term and see how the Olympics can make that work for the long-term benefit of the city”.
“One of the beauties about the (IOC) announcement now is we have more time than any other Olympics to plan ahead,” Mr Henry said.
“Any major facility needs time to be fully considered so there is long-term benefit out of it.”
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