Brisbane 2032 Olympics: State offers developer exclusivity for arena

Deputy Premier and Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie just made private development of a Brisbane Arena much more enticing.

The developer who builds the Brisbane Arena for the state government could be given a monopoly over a reduced Woolloongabba priority development area in a surprise move by the Deputy Premier.

More than 100ha of Woolloongabba, Kangaroo Point, East and South Brisbane were declared part of the existing PDA in September 2023.

The declaration allows Economic Development Queensland to streamline development application assessments to fast-track projects.

But it is understood Deputy Premier and Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie is now planning to drastically shrink the PDA’s size to include just the Gabba and GoPrint sites in order to attract a developer willing to build the Brisbane Arena there before 2032.

The Woolloongabba PDA regulatory map. Picture: Economic Development Queensland

It’s understood the chosen arena developer could then be given exclusive commercial access to redevelop the Gabba site post-Games.

Mr Bleijie teased the plan at the launch of the Committee for Brisbane and Council of Mayors (SEQ) latest SEQ Benchmarking Report on Thursday.

A previous plan for a Brisbane Arena (left) opposite a redeveloped Gabba

“What I would probably suspect we’re going to do, there is a PDA over Woolloongabba at the moment, we may look at amending that PDA just so it’s over the Go Print and Gabba site, and then we can do a deal with the private sector,” he told the event.

“With a long term benefit of the Gabba coming down as well, just on that site, if they need that to get a deal done for the GoPrint site, that’s what we’ll do.”

Deputy Premier and Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie addresses the Committee for Brisbane and Council of Mayors (SEQ) lunch in Brisbane on Thursday. Picture: Tertius Pickard

In a further statement to The Courier-Mail, Mr Bleijie said the state government was fast tracking a competitive market led proposal to progress a new arena and urban renewal project delivered by the private sector alongside the 2032 Delivery Plan.

“That proposal may include amending the current PDA in Woolloongabba as we seek market feedback about what’s needed to deliver a world class sports and entertainment precinct and new homes for Queenslanders,” he said.

The PDA’s existing Woolloongabba Plan includes provisions to ensure that 50 per cent of the Cross River Rail precinct is delivered as open space, including a new Central Park.

The plan also includes provisions to ensure more diverse housing, including 20 per cent social or affordable, and accessible housing.

Originally published as Brisbane 2032 Olympics: State offers developer exclusivity for arena