Brisbane Olympics cuts Gabba stadium plan with $3.4b proposal emerging

A major review into Brisbane’s Olympics planning has found the proposed $2.7 billion Gabba rebuild must be cancelled.

A general view of the Gabba. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images.

A major review into Brisbane’s Olympic planning will reportedly see the proposal for a $2.7 billion Gabba redevelopment scrapped, in favour of an even more expensive new venue.

Multiple outlets are reporting former Brisbane lord mayor Graham Quirk’s review, which will be released on Monday morning, will recommend a $3.4 billion stadium built at Victoria Park in Herston, a current green space.

That is despite the review being implemented because it was thought the cost of the Gabba redevelopment was too high.

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The Quirk plan would appear to be very similar to a venue proposed earlier in March, also at Victoria Park, which Brisbane Lions CEO Greg Swann said “looks fantastic”.

“Obviously, the focus is the stadium for us, but the way that proposal flows, there’s education facilities, there’s hospitals, there’s green space … it just looks something that you’d like to think governments of all persuasions will (like),” Swann said of that proposal.

“Those brand new stadiums bring people to the city. It’s great for tourism.

“This place (Brisbane) is growing. In 20 years’ time, we’ll have four million people here.

“I know it’s easy to say ‘why are you spending money on the stadium’?, but every big city has stadiums, hospitals, schools … there’s a place for everything.

“We think that proposal really suits us, as does the stadium, (for) us and cricket primarily and the Olympics, but I think from a legacy point of view the whole development proposal certainly looks like it should be considered by those in authority.”

A general view of the Gabba is seen at sunset during day one of the Second Test match in the series between Australia and West Indies at The Gabba on January 25, 2024 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

The Gabba currently has a capacity of around 37,000 for AFL games and the Lions would move to the new venue at Victoria Park if it is built.

The plan also includes a recommendation to relocate the Brisbane Arena “from above the tracks at Roma Street to an underutilised section of the adjacent Roma Street Parkland”, according to Nine.

The decision on what to do ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics comes as the long-term Labor government prepares for a state election in October where it is favoured to lose power.

Originally published as Brisbane Olympics cuts Gabba stadium plan with $3.4b proposal emerging