Sunshine Coast Mayor warns LNP critical Olympic projects at risk

The Sunshine Coast Mayor has issued a stern warning to the newly elected LNP government, regarding its 100-day games review, which she claims puts major projects at risk.

Aerial looking north from Bokarina, showing Sunshine Coast Stadium which will undergo an expansion leading up to the Olympic and Paralympic Games Brisbane 2032.

The Sunshine Coast mayor has issued a stern warning to the newly elected LNP government regarding its 100-day games review, which she claims puts major projects at risk.

The LNP state government pledged to undertake a 100-day review of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games projects as a key election promise.

However, Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli raised a number of concerns with the state government’s 100-day review on Thursday, claiming the ongoing delays were putting the region’s projects at risk.

On the Coast, the Sunshine Coast Stadium expansion, a new indoor sports centre and a new mountain bike centre have all been given the green light to proceed to tender.

“These venues are important for our community and long overdue, and the Sunshine Coast cannot lose these facilities,” Ms Natoli said.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

“They will provide high-quality competition and training facilities for our local athletes and increase participation in sports and recreation across the region.

“It is disappointing the tender was not signed before the caretaker period began; it is disappointing to hear the budget has blown out and it is disappointing that this will be held up in a review.”

Ms Natoli’s comments come after the $148m Sunshine Coast Stadium redevelopment was revealed to have been delayed by 12 months under the former Labor government.

The delay was due to a failure to secure tender to begin construction, with a cost blowout largely to blame.

Ms Natoli said the three projects had already been subjected to “rigorous” processes.

“The validation process these three projects have gone through has been rigorous and extensive,” she said.

“That process also demonstrated the importance of these venues for our region and the important role they will play before, during and long after the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Deputy Premier and state MP for Kawana Jarrod Bleijie. Picture: Richard Walker

Deputy premier Jarrod Bleijie previously criticised Labor’s delays to the construction of the Sunshine Coast Stadium upgrade, while in opposition.

“The Sunshine Coast desperately needs infrastructure in place like the Sunshine Coast outdoor stadium upgrade,” Mr Bleijie said last month.

“Labor has failed residents by endless delays on the progress of this project, and failed again with no movement on the tender ahead of going into caretaker mode.

Mr Bleijie was contacted by this publication for comment regarding Ms Natoli’s concerns about the LNP’s review.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast Mayor warns LNP critical Olympic projects at risk