Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate launches blistering counter-attack on Adrian Schrinner

Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate has launched a sensational attack on his Brisbane counterpart, saying the $2.5bn Brisbane Arena plan is reckless and doesn’t make economic sense.

The Mayor Tom Tate talks has launched a counter attack on Adrian Schrinner. Picture Glenn Hampson

• Lord Mayor: Swimming is ours

Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate has launched a blistering counter-attack on his Brisbane counterpart, accusing the Adrian Schrinner administration of contributing nothing to the 2032 Olympics and saying the $2.5bn Brisbane Arena plan is reckless and doesn’t make economic sense.

Cr Schrinner on Tuesday slammed Cr Tate’s audacious bid to poach the Olympic swimming events for the Gold Coast, saying it would scuttle the Brisbane Arena project next to Roma St Parkland which would have a temporary Games pool before becoming a permanent inner-city stadium.

But speaking from Las Vegas where he is on leave attending the NRL season opener, the Glitter Strip Mayor doubled down on his criticism of the Brisbane Arena plan and his assertion that the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre at Southport should host the Olympic swimming.

“Adrian is saying ‘hands off our arena’ but it doesn’t even make economic sense to spend $2.5b in today’s money to build a temporary pool,” Cr Tate said.

Supplied images of a proposed Brisbane Live site. Picture: Supplied

An engineer by profession, he said the foundations to support two drop-in Olympic pools would cost $500m to $700m alone.

“You take the pool out and that $700m is underground,” he said.

“You’ve got an unnecessary, overbuilt foundation and you think that’s value for money? He (Cr Schrinner) wouldn’t do it in his own backyard - put a temporary pool in and then pull it out and put in a tennis court. He doesn’t understand that because he’s not an engineer.

“Even a permanent pool (in Brisbane) is going to cost $600m. Why would you do it when, just down the road, you’ve got a six-pool aquatic centre here on the Gold Coast.

“We’ve already proved we can host major meets there with the (2014) Pan Pacific Championships and (2018) Commonwealth Games, and we’re negotiating to host the (2030) world short course championships.

“If the aquatic centre is good enough for the world championships, it’s sure as s*** good enough for the Olympics in 2032.

“Adrian can do what he likes with his pool - I’ve already got my own pool, it’s going to be world-class with a roof over it and it’s not going to cost the government $2.5bn.

“Leave the taxpayers’ money alone - that’s my advice to him. (Spending) $2.5bn-plus plus would be reckless. It takes away from the real infrastructure that South East Queensland needs and regional Queensland needs, which is long-term transport infrastructure.

Lord Mayor Adrian Shrinner. Picture: Adam Head

“For him (Cr Schrinner) to go, ‘I want my temporary pool’, in what universe is he in? He’s happy because it’s coming out of other people’s money.

“How much is Brisbane (city council) contributing in sporting infrastructure for the Games itself? None. None of the facilities are owned by the Brisbane City Council, they’re owned by the State Government.

“He’s not putting a dollar in, because his council is heading towards $5bn in debt.”

Cr Tate renewed his call for a new mid-sized inner city stadium to be built at the Doomben racecourse.

Originally published as Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate launches blistering counter-attack on Adrian Schrinner