Future Toowoomba: Olympians, business leaders want unity ahead of 2032 games
It’s considered a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the Toowoomba region — but only if we seize it. That’s the message from Olympians and business leaders at a special luncheon exploring possibilities with the 2032 Brisbane Games.
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Toowoomba’s business leaders have urged the city to form a unified voice around its bid for a fair share of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.
More than 250 people got a chance to explore the region’s Olympic opportunities at the Future Toowoomba luncheon at Wellcamp Airport, with topics covered including infrastructure, sporting events and team hosting possibilities.
The special The Chronicle event featured demographer Simon Kuestenmacher as the keynote speaker, who outlined the steps Toowoomba needed to take to become a true regional powerhouse.
The proceeding panel discussion featured Olympians Nat Cook and Matt Denny, Wagner Corp chairman John Wagner, Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise’s Mark Mason, LJ Hooker’s Mike Stewart and Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd Rohl.
Ms Cook said she wanted to ensure development pathways and financial security of athletes was part of the legacy created by the 2032 Olympics, something Toowoomba could champion.
“Our athletes are considered quite amateur, it’s almost a hobby to be a discus or beach volleyball player,” she said.
“The money to be an Olympian or a Paralympian is not enough to live on, to pay the rent and fuel – our athletes are paid between $8000 and $30,000.
“Why would a parent choose volleyball or athletics or hockey over AFL, netball or rugby league?”
Allora local Mr Denny, who came within 5cm of an Olympic medal in Tokyo, echoed the sentiments, saying regional athletes should be empowered to remain in their hometowns while they trained and developed.
It serves as the catalytic next step in Toowoomba’s Olympic campaign, which has been spearheaded by The Chronicle in recent weeks to ensure the region is not left behind.
Mr Wagner said while he was excited by the energy and enthusiasm from key stakeholders, the city needed to get behind a message that could drive the Olympic agenda.
He also identified TSBE as an organisation which could serve as the rallying point for the campaign.
“We need to have a very collaborative engagement and not just driven by the Toowoomba Regional Council,” he said.
“Council has a part to play in it, but I’d like to see TSBE lead it and really get stuck into what events we can track, what our point of difference is, how it can be funded and being serious about making sure we’re not left on the shelf.
“They’re well-positioned and well respected, they’ve got the ear of government and we need to have a central body to do it.”
TSBE CEO Ali Davenport said the organisation would be ready and willing to play its part in delivering Olympic infrastructure.
“We need to work a strategy on what we actually want out of this — we can’t miss this opportunity, it’s too good,” she said.
“We would definitely love to be involved, because we think it’ll help grow the economy and TSBE is about economic development.”
The Chronicle editor Jordan Philp said the city could not rely on the Olympics to come to it.
“What Toowoomba has right now is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to use the 2032 Olympics as a catalyst to bring new infrastructure to the Garden City.
“But that will only happen if we move forward together with an action plan, set deadlines and get to work.
“The Chronicle’s Future Toowoomba event was an example of getting the best minds together in one room to formulate a game plan, but now the works begins.”
In Pictures: Follow the link below to see all the photos from the lunch.
COMMENT: Toowoomba needs a real Olympic game plan
Looking at Toowoomba’s Olympic campaign as it stands right now, it feels apt to use a sporting analogy here.
We have all the pieces, talent and passion to bring a slice of the event here — what we need is a game plan.
In the lead-up to the enormously successful Future Toowoomba luncheon, I have spent the past month speaking with some of the Garden City’s biggest movers and shakers — business leaders, politicians, economic lobbyists, sporting icons.
They all agree the 2032 Games in southeast Queensland are an incredible opportunity for this region, both economically and socially.
It could deliver legacy infrastructure that would be used by this community for generations, unlock entire sporting markets previously unavailable to us and give our children and grandchildren to chance to watch the world’s best athletes in their own backyard.
That’s not even to speak of the millions of tourists who will be at our doorstep, both before, during and after the games.
We call some of the most talented minds in Queensland our fellow residents, we have a broad economic base made of several industries and a reputation as a welcoming and safe community.
But without a winning game plan that uses our best players at the right time, we could be doomed to sitting on the sidelines.
The formation of that game plan started on Friday — I cannot wait to see how it develops.
— Tom Gillespie
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