2032 Olympic Games: Surprise Gold Coast solution to Gabba stadium revamp cost blowout

Gold Coast councillors will launch a charm offensive on Olympics bosses to win support for the city to take a greater role in the 2032 Games. HAVE YOUR SAY.

Gold Coast councillors will launch a charm offensive on Olympics bosses to win support for the city to take a greater role in the 2032 Games.

An International Olympic Committee (IOC) delegation will visit the Gold Coast in March for a tour of potential venues for between six and nine events which will be held here when the city co-hosts the Games.

Mayor Tom Tate, who will lead the tour, on Monday pitched the Gold Coast as the primary host of the Games at existing venues in a bid to cut costs in Brisbane.

Acting Mayor Donna Gates, (Gold Coast Bulletin, Pulse socials). Picture: Celeste Humphrey

With fears growing over the cost of Games projects blowing out, Mr Tate said it was time to let the Gold Coast carry more of the burden. He highlighted the planned Gabba redevelopment, which was originally priced at $1bn but is now tipped to top $2.5bn.

Acting Mayor Donna Gates said on Tuesday that there was no “Brisbane versus Gold Coast versus Sunshine Coast battle-for-supremacy” but insisted the city could do more.

“We want to work collaboratively in the region so we can deliver the best possible Olympic Games in 2032,” she said.

“What the community would like to see is long-term benefits and the most important thing in our region in transport infrastructure.

“They would rather see $2.5bn spent on those initiatives than on the Gabba.”

Acting Premier Steven Miles defended the Games plans on Monday and said and cost of the Gabba revamp, saying the Games would “deliver benefits across the State”.

Mr Tate’s comments are the latest salvo in tensions between the Mayor and Games organisers after the city missed out on a seat on the Olympic board.

The Council’s decision to quit the South East Queensland Council of Mayors, something Mr Tate supported, has also been blamed for the city missing out in billions in infrastructure funding.

Initially the city was expected to host up to nine events, including race walks and the marathon, basketball and football preliminary finals, handball and golf.

However the golf, among others will now be played in Brisbane.

‘Do the whole thing here’: Surprise solution to Olympics cost blowout

Mayor Tom Tate says the Gold Coast should become the primary host of the 2032 Olympic Games in a bid to save costs on the world’s biggest sporting event.

The Glitter Strip is expected to host six sports during the 2032 Games, with a satellite athletes village to be built at Robina.

But with fears growing over the cost of Games projects blowing out, Mr Tate said it was time to let the Gold Coast carry more of the burden.

He highlighted the planned Gabba redevelopment, which was originally priced at $1bn but is now tipped to top $2.5bn.

Supplied artist impression of the proposed Gabba redevelopment.

“Look at the Gabba. They want to spend $2.5 billion to put an extra 8000 seats in. That simply doesn’t make sense when you cannot deliver affordable housing,” he said.

“They should only refurbish it because this is taxpayers’ money and there are hard times right now so it’s not the time to rebuild.

“If you are going to burn dollars left, right and centre, people will look at you with disdain.”

The Mayor said the regional Games – being co-hosted by the Gold Coast, are too Brisbane-centric and that organisers could better fulfil the IOC charter by allowing more events to be held on the Gold Coast.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: Tertius Pickard

“I say they need to be respectful of taxpayers’ money. We already have a lot of the facilities such as Olympic pools, hockey fields and BMX, to name a few,” Mr Tate said.

“Let’s focus on value-for-money and legacy for the whole of South East Qld. After all, this all started out as a southeast Queensland (Olympic and Paralympic) bid.’’

The cost of the Gabba revamp is so high that speculation has grown that some of the athletics competition may be moved to Carrara Stadium.

The Olympic organising committee is expected to the visit the Coast in coming months to review venues.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner declined to comment when approached by the Bulletin on Monday.

Acting Premier Steven Miles defending the Games plans and cost of the Gabba revamp, saying the Games would “deliver benefits across the State”.

Acting Premier Steven Miles. Picture: Liam Kidston

“We’re already missing out on attracting international games and rebuilding the stadium will deliver a world class stadium and allow us to remain competitive for AFL and international cricket,” he said.

“It will also attract national and international entertainment events.”

In addition to six venues, the Gold Coast Athlete Village will house more than 2600 athletes and officials during the Games.

“Since the historic housing summit in October, the Palaszczuk Government has taken significant action to support housing choice and affordability (including) doubling the Housing Investment Fund to $2bn to build thousands of extra social and affordable homes for Queenslanders,” Mr Miles said.

Mr Tate’s comments are the latest salvo in tensions between the Mayor and Games organisers after the city missed out on a seat on the Olympic board.

The Council’s decision to quit the South East Queensland Council of Mayors, something Mr Tate supported, has also been blamed for the city missing out in billions in infrastructure funding.

Initially the city was expected to host up to nine events, including race walks and the marathon, basketball and football preliminary finals, handball and golf.

However the golf, among others will now be played in Brisbane.

The Bulletin reported in Late 2022 that city leaders are expected to tell committee chair Andrew Liveris that the Coast has much less debt than Brisbane City and can spend money on minor upgrades to 2018 Commonwealth Games infrastructure.

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Originally published as 2032 Olympic Games: Surprise Gold Coast solution to Gabba stadium revamp cost blowout