Rethink on Roma Street Games venue amid congestion concerns

The Queensland government is examining alternative sites for the yet-to-be-built venue to host the Olympic swimming and water polo near Roma Street Station.

The move comes after serious pedestrian, cycling and road traffic issues in the area were highlighted in a report on the Roma Street sector of the Cross River Rail project.

An artist’s impression of the Brisbane Live entertainment precinct above the new Roma Street station. Credit:

The Brisbane Arena – to be known after the Games as Brisbane Live – is based on a long-standing proposal to transform the area around the old transit centre into an events and entertainment precinct.

Under the original plan, a 17,000-seat venue would host the Games’ swimming and water polo events in a temporary pool, which Brisbane Times understands has already been designed and verified against FINA requirements.

But Brisbane Arena has yet to find a final home amid concerns that Roma Street and its railway lines present too many constraints, and that surrounding areas would be overwhelmed by pedestrians.

One potential solution is for the venue to move closer to the Brisbane River to help transform North Quay – even if that means demolition of the police headquarters and arrest courts.

Deputy Premier and Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympic Infrastructure Steven Miles confirmed on Friday the government was exploring “different options” within the 32-hectare Roma Street Parklands Priority Development Area.

“A process is currently underway to inform future investment decisions for the Brisbane Arena, to be located within the Roma Street precinct,” Miles said.

“This process will ensure the arena is fit for purpose and delivers the best legacy outcomes for Queensland.

“Further development of the design and project documentation is required before a final funding decision is made by the Queensland and Australian governments.

“It will revitalise the underutilised Roma Street precinct by helping us to attract a greater variety of entertainment and international sporting events, and strengthen Brisbane’s tourism sector.”

The government set a priority development area to guide construction of the new Roma Street underground train station as part of the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project. Other projects are set to follow.

The original plan for Brisbane Arena, the brainchild of entertainment businessman Harvey Lister, involved a venue opening up to the gardens of Emma Miller Place and down to King George Square.

However, Brisbane Times has been told major contractors have pointed out the challenges of building around underground rail services, as well as pedestrian and traffic problems in the “highly constrained road space”.

Some of those concerns are included in a report on the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority May 2021 infrastructure plan.

“Significant volume of pedestrians undertake illegal crossings at Herschel Street, George Street, Makerston Street intersections with Roma Street due to a lack of legal at-grade crossings and pedestrians possibly unwilling to wait for signals,” the report warns.

The report also says: “The wayfinding through the precinct, particularly along Roma Street, is limited and can be confusing, especially for movements towards King George Square.”

It says the road network is “highly constrained” and planners need to be aware of the need for road upgrades along Roma Street for the “magistrates court” and Queensland Police headquarters.

The Suncorp Stadium redevelopment faced similar issues. That project only came in on budget because the government abandoned a dedicated pedestrian thoroughfare, instead requiring street closures for major events.

The Queensland government is now evaluating a range of alternative options for the Brisbane Arena. This map of the Roma Street Parklands Priority Development Area shows the entertainment and community precincts in green, and a future city gateway precinct in blue.Credit: Cross River Rail Infrastructure Report May 2021.

Brisbane Times understands planners are now evaluating whether the Brisbane Arena alignment is the most cost-effective and viable of several options that exist within the priority development area.

The police headquarters has already been earmarked as part of a “future Roma Street Gateway Precinct” because it opens to the Brisbane River. That could allow the venue to be part of a much broader transformation and provide a greater legacy for the city.

Ironically, a shift in that direction could also help reunite the city with its past, being close to the historical marker for where explorer John Oxley landed as he explored the Brisbane River.

Several industry figures are quietly disappointed the 2032 Olympics infrastructure committee is yet to be announced, and are concerned by the amount of work needed before any construction starts.

Brisbane Times has been told any redevelopment of the Gabba into a 50,000-seat venue and Games centrepiece is likely to begin in 2026, after the next home Ashes cricket series.

However, with Cross River Rail due to open in 2025, that would also see the Brisbane Arena under construction at the same time.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk expects all Olympic infrastructure to be ready for 12 months of final trials, leaving nine years, not 10, for decisions to be made and projects completed.

Clarification: Excerpts of the report quoted in this article may not match the report that existed at the time due to the hyperlink being broken some time in the 18 months after publication. The article still provides an accurate account of the issues.