Toowoomba Sports Ground: Quirk review of Olympic venues recommends against $80m upgrade

Exclusive: The proposed upgrade of the Toowoomba Sports Ground appears to be dead after a snap review led by former Brisbane Mayor Graham Quirk recommended against it.

Clive Berghofer Stadium crowds are seen during the TFL grand final, Sunday, September 5, 2021. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The future of Toowoomba hosting Olympic events is in peril after a snap review of planned venues for the 2032 games recommended against upgrading the Toowoomba Sports Ground for upwards of $80m.

The independent study, created by a panel chaired by former Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk, has concluded there was “minimal identified legacy” from the planned upgrades.

TSG was the only regional venue slated for the Olympics that was recommended against being upgraded.

While it does not kill the project entirely, the findings from the review will be passed onto Infrastructure Minister Grace Grace and may inform the separate project validation process currently ongoing with the organising committee.

Western Clydesdales against Northern Pride in Hostplus Cup rugby league at Clive Berghofer Stadium, Saturday, May 13, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The result is a big win for residents living around the stadium, as well as sporting clubs leasing land next to the state government-owned facility.

The planned upgrade had also split the Toowoomba Regional Council, with a motion to provide a positive submission to the review barely passing.

“(This submission) is a lie, it does not include the whole story, it’s misleading — those are strong words, but I fully support them,” councillor Nancy Sommerfield said during the meeting on February 20.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – NewsWire Photos JANUARY 18, 2024: Former Lord Mayor Graham Quirk during a press conference in Brisbane. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

The review received as many submissions for the TSG upgrade as for the Gabba proposal in Brisbane, with 92 per cent of the responses being opposed to it.

In the report, the panel said the opposition to the upgrade and “differing views” at council were factors in the recommendation to not proceed.

“The proposed upgrades would require the permanent relocation of an existing tennis club, bowls club and croquet club, all of which have a long association with the current site,” the report said.

“Due to the location of the Toowoomba Sports Ground in a residential neighbourhood, there would be significant impact on local residents during the games including security, transport and operational requirements.

“As a result, significant opposition to using the ground for games events has been received from the adjacent clubs and local residents due to the impact of the upgrades and use of the venue for the games on the local community.”

There are also differing views within Toowoomba Regional Council on the merits and legacy benefits of the project.

“The review was not presented with any evidence that additional legacy content would be attracted to the stadium after the proposed upgrade.”

The report recommended the government and organising committee explore other opportunities to host events in Toowoomba “which align to the region’s desired legacy outcomes”.

The report also highlighted the Toowoomba showgrounds as a potential site for equestrian events, in line with a study into a centre of excellence commissioned by the council.

“All these proposals had merit and a clear vision for legacy,” the report said, in relation to the showgrounds along with a number of other venues across Queensland.