Editorial: Games plan is golden – except for two glaring omissions

There remain two significant gaps in the Crisafulli government’s new masterplan for venues to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032, writes the editor.

There remain two significant gaps in the Crisafulli government’s new masterplan for venues to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032 – that there is no guarantee the needed inner-city arena for Brisbane will be built on time, and that there is nothing in the plan for our state’s rugby league cathedral of Suncorp Stadium.

But the Premier’s masterplan has still won Queenslanders over – with an astonishing 85 per cent of 5000+ readers surveyed yesterday saying they were happy with the plan, and three-quarters saying they feel more excited about the Games now the venues have been announced.

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They are results that support our editorial view on Tuesday that the time for talking is over, after more than 1300 days of inaction. It is now time for action – and for all of us to get behind what is proposed so that Queensland can get on with what matters, which is putting on the best Olympic and Paralympic Games the world has ever seen.

For what it is worth, we support the plan. A new stadium at Victoria Park might be a rolled-gold broken election promise for Premier David Crisafulli, but he deserves credit for having the courage to simply own up to it. He did not shy away from the truth for one second yesterday – that this brand new 63,000-seat stadium must be built, and Victoria Park is the best location for it. It will cost an estimated $3.78bn, but hey – we have $7.1bn in state and federal budgets for venues and this will be our Games showpiece, so why not?

Backing in Swimming Australia’s vision for a new National Aquatic Centre across the Inner City Bypass from the stadium, at the Centenary Pool, was a bold move – but it was one that delivers the legacy that our nation’s top Olympic sport has been asking for. Considering Queensland is the home of swimming, this is also a lovely touch.

An artist impression of Brisbane Stadium in Victoria Park for Brisbane 2032 Olympics. Source: Queensland Government.

How this venue will be used post-2032 is still an unanswered question, but it does at least make sense that all four Games aquatic sports move their headquarters to our state – which they will now do.

The big surprise yesterday was the commitment to also build in that same precinct a 20,000-seat venue at the Main Arena in the RNA Showgrounds. This was first floated as a potential location for the Brisbane Lions and cricket to play in, while the Gabba was being rebuilt as the main Games stadium – but the Palaszczuk government stuffed that plan up. To see it back in the masterplan was a shock, but it makes sense – for the same reasons it made sense two years ago: that it delivers another venue for sporting events and concerts in the CBD. As the Premier said, it also breathes new life into the iconic annual Ekka. We therefore welcome it.

We remain sceptical that rowing will be able to be contested in the Fitzroy River at Rockhampton – not because of the crocodiles, but because it has a current that will rule it ineligible. But we do also understand the Premier’s political will to have at least some medal sports contested outside of the regions, to offset that big spend on a new stadium for Brisbane.

The idea of sailing in Townsville and the Whitsundays is easy to back, as it will showcase stunning scenery – and the sport of sailing is used to being contested away from the host city anyway (in Paris it was 770km away in Marseilles).

Archery in Maryborough does not make a lot of sense, but the Premier’s explanation of a way to use it to showcase our state’s unique “heritage” architecture was a decent one. But as with Rockhampton’s rowing dreams, we will wait and see.

The panel press conference pictured at the Howard Smith Wharves for the announcement of the Brisbane Olympics 2032 venues and infrastructure. Picture: Josh Woning

Building a world-class equestrian centre at Toowoomba is, however, a no-brainer – as is hosting some of the football and cricket preliminaries in Cairns, Mackay and Townsville.

The focus on tying transport infrastructure delivery to the 2032 deadline is also a welcome move – as that was the motivator for the South East Queensland Council of Mayors sparking this bid a decade ago. Linking the Sunshine Coast Airport with the main commuter heavy rail network via a Brisbane Metro-style busway project will deliver transport legacy. We back it.

But if we return to those two key gaps – the key one is that the state plan to tap the private sector to pay for and build the inner-city arena that the city needs (regardless of the Games) means there are now no guarantees it will be delivered. In fact, it all sounds too good to be true.

Crisafulli said he would take steps immediately to allow the Brisbane Live arena concept to be delivered by the private sector. Those steps include moving the Brisbane Arena Priority Area from the Roma Street precinct to the old GoPrint site across from the Gabba.

Getting it done would become a task for Infrastructure Minister Jarrod Bleijie. We will be holding him to account on this, as an inner-city arena to replace the 40-year-old Boondall Entertainment Centre is necessary for Brisbane – and will be used for the Games, regardless of the government spin on this.

On Suncorp Stadium, we would point out that the current plan sees Brisbane post-2032 with a brand new stadium for AFL and cricket but a 30-year-old stadium for our state’s favourite sport of rugby league. While Suncorp Stadium remains a world-class cauldron, it will need investment over the next decade – indeed, the love Queenslanders have for rugby league demands it.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here

Originally published as Editorial: Games plan is golden – except for two glaring omissions