Pure_Ownage
TheBrownDog
100 % this.
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AFLW 2024 - Round 10 - Chat, game threads, injury lists, team lineups and more.
Brisbane's Gabba not to be rebuilt!
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100 % this.
Pure_Ownage
TheBrownDog
Show me an example in the last 10-20 years of where these stadiums get built for an appropriate cost? They always cost the taxpayer far more than the benefit the taxpayer gets.
No idea, but you'd be hard pressed to find someone in Perth that thinks Optus was a terrible idea.
At best you might find a few people apathetic.
hawkman
Hall of Famer
I think Giants Stadium in Western Sydney is a great stadium, gets used for Giants matches and plenty of other events like the Royal Easter Show.
Adelaide Oval is the pride of Adelaide, same with Perth stadium.
Don't see many ppl complaining about Metricom stadium on the Gold Coast either, think it hosts a bunch of events too.
Carrara's issue will always be the transport options.
Buses and a limited car park are all there is, Nerang train station is probably 2km away and isn't an easy walk. Even if they just build a footbridge over the road outside the stadium that would help the traffic flow so buses don't have to constantly u-turn and hold up traffic.
Macca180
Club Legend
Australians need to be paying more of their taxpayers dollars to get this done.
Its quite simple
IOC pays for main stadium
Feds pay for new indoor arena
Qld govt pays for transport and related infrastructure.
All of the above are legacy assets for the State and country.
IOC pays for main stadium
Feds pay for new indoor arena
Qld govt pays for transport and related infrastructure.
All of the above are legacy assets for the State and country.
Spot on, it has been lost in all the bruhaha about cost overruns that the IOC has promised $2.5 Billion dollars towards the cost of the games.
Brisbane/QLD/Australia needs to take advantage of this, you don't get many opportunities to build a world class stadium... no Olympics, no Billions from the IOC.
- Thread starter
- #86
The IOC $2.5 Billion would get a half decent new main stadium and would be a much better option than wasting that sort spending on tarting up the Gabba.
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RussellEbertHandball
Flick pass expert
The $2.5bil is just 49% of the TV monies the IOC collects for that games and some of the sponsorship monies the IOC collects from its TOP - The Olympic Programme sponsorship.
Its basically there to cover a decent chunk of the operating costs of putting on the games, not the infrastructure.
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RussellEbertHandball
Flick pass expert
Here are some extracts relating to how much it cost to put on the Sydney Olympic and Paralympic games and where the revenue came from.
First extract is from the NSW Auditor General's 2002 report on the Sydney Olympics
And from the Olympic Co-ordination Authority's -
REPORT ON THE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION
BY THE NEW SOUTH WALES GOVERNMENT
TO THE SYDNEY 2000 GAMES
31 March 2002
Explaining how SOCOG revenues were earned to contribute a) $361.3m to infrastructure and b) $2,393.4m to event related expenses.
Here is how SOCOG earned $2,832.9m from Ordinary Activities - ie event related.
So thru the 60% TV monies distributed to SOCOG, it became 49% in 2004 and it was 50% of the TOP - The Olympic Program global sponsorships, the IOC contributed $1,132.8m + $360.4 = $1,493.2m approx of the $6,484.2m spent between 23 September 1993 and 31st March 2002 to put on the Olympic and Paralympic Games and then wind things up.
Of that $6,484.2m nearly half was spent on infrastructure items by a combo of NSW government and the private sector as the private sector paid for about 82% of Stadium Australia and 65% of the games Villages.
Sydney Olympics was 100% controlled by the NSW government, with the feds making a contribution, but Brisbane Olympics is a 50/50 partnership, ie 50/50 funding agreement between the Queensland government and the Commonwealth government.
Edit there are also 11 district councils in SE Queensland that signed on to the agreement and they provide very minor funding, but the agreement is mainly about using their land and their facilities, and services eg some of the 2018 Comm Games facilities are now owned and operated by the Gold Coast City Council and will be used in 2032 Games.
From February 2023
www.brisbanetimes.com.au
More than 1½ years in the making, the state and federal governments have finally agreed to a $7 billion funding deal for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese flew to the Queensland capital on Friday morning to sign the deal with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and outline the decisions yet to be made for the Games.
Calling the Games the biggest event ever to be held in Queensland, Albanese said the funded infrastructure would have a “long-term and transformational impact” on the state.
However, the deal formally announced by the leaders on Friday, in front of media and sporting luminaries, was significantly different to the 50-50 cost-sharing agreement once mooted by governments. It is also more costly than original estimates.
As revealed by this masthead last month, the increasingly expensive $2.7 billion Gabba rebuild will be solely a state government responsibility, with the federal government instead contributing $2.5 billion to a new Brisbane Arena at Roma Street.
...........
First extract is from the NSW Auditor General's 2002 report on the Sydney Olympics
And from the Olympic Co-ordination Authority's -
REPORT ON THE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION
BY THE NEW SOUTH WALES GOVERNMENT
TO THE SYDNEY 2000 GAMES
31 March 2002
Explaining how SOCOG revenues were earned to contribute a) $361.3m to infrastructure and b) $2,393.4m to event related expenses.
Here is how SOCOG earned $2,832.9m from Ordinary Activities - ie event related.
So thru the 60% TV monies distributed to SOCOG, it became 49% in 2004 and it was 50% of the TOP - The Olympic Program global sponsorships, the IOC contributed $1,132.8m + $360.4 = $1,493.2m approx of the $6,484.2m spent between 23 September 1993 and 31st March 2002 to put on the Olympic and Paralympic Games and then wind things up.
Of that $6,484.2m nearly half was spent on infrastructure items by a combo of NSW government and the private sector as the private sector paid for about 82% of Stadium Australia and 65% of the games Villages.
Sydney Olympics was 100% controlled by the NSW government, with the feds making a contribution, but Brisbane Olympics is a 50/50 partnership, ie 50/50 funding agreement between the Queensland government and the Commonwealth government.
Edit there are also 11 district councils in SE Queensland that signed on to the agreement and they provide very minor funding, but the agreement is mainly about using their land and their facilities, and services eg some of the 2018 Comm Games facilities are now owned and operated by the Gold Coast City Council and will be used in 2032 Games.
From February 2023
State, federal govts strike $7b deal for 2032 Brisbane Olympics
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk have detailed plans for the Gabba redevelopment and a new venue at Roma Street.
More than 1½ years in the making, the state and federal governments have finally agreed to a $7 billion funding deal for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese flew to the Queensland capital on Friday morning to sign the deal with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and outline the decisions yet to be made for the Games.
Calling the Games the biggest event ever to be held in Queensland, Albanese said the funded infrastructure would have a “long-term and transformational impact” on the state.
However, the deal formally announced by the leaders on Friday, in front of media and sporting luminaries, was significantly different to the 50-50 cost-sharing agreement once mooted by governments. It is also more costly than original estimates.
As revealed by this masthead last month, the increasingly expensive $2.7 billion Gabba rebuild will be solely a state government responsibility, with the federal government instead contributing $2.5 billion to a new Brisbane Arena at Roma Street.
...........
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RussellEbertHandball
Flick pass expert
Reason why the local OCOG only gets 49% of TV / media rights monies after Sydney where that games and peior games got 60% was that the IOC set up the Olympic Broadcasting Service, in 2001 which over the years has gone from being a provider of services for small nations to the outright host broadcaster from 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics onward.
Brisbane Lions
What are you thoughts on this new stadium proposal, Brisbane? Read more on the Courier here:...
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If a new Victoria Park stadium does get built, what happens to the Gabba after the new one opens?
Cricket has Allan Border Field. Aussie Rules has Springfield.
Does the Gabba get downgraded into a 20,000 botique stadium, but what would it ever be used for except to steal events away from the new stadium.
Do the Lions move their training grounds to a downgraded Gabba? Does the Gabba just get knocked down and turned into housing?
The Gabba gets demolished and the land sold off after the Olympics to make way for apartments and green space, AB field is a training base for Cricket Australia and a Domestic cricket venue, Springfield is a Lions training/admin base and is used for VFL and community footy.Brisbane Lions
What are you thoughts on this new stadium proposal, Brisbane? Read more on the Courier here:...
View attachment 1919713
If a new Victoria Park stadium does get built, what happens to the Gabba after the new one opens?
Cricket has Allan Border Field. Aussie Rules has Springfield.
Does the Gabba get downgraded into a 20,000 botique stadium, but what would it ever be used for except to steal events away from the new stadium.
Do the Lions move their training grounds to a downgraded Gabba? Does the Gabba just get knocked down and turned into housing?
Victoria Park used for Lions home games, International Cricket and big drawing concerts eg.Taylor Swift.
- Oct 3, 2008
- 7,529
- 8,073
- AFL Club
- Hawthorn
Don´t the Lions need a 50k stadium now?
Unfortunately our technology hasn't advanced enough yet to whip up a 50,000 seat Stadium overnight.
- Oct 3, 2008
- 7,529
- 8,073
- AFL Club
- Hawthorn
Adelaide Oval is the greatest thing that ever happened to Adelaide.
- Aug 21, 2007
- 33,120
- 109,438
- AFL Club
- Port Adelaide
- Other Teams
- Aston Villa, San Antonio Spurs
The taxpayer gets more than just the financial return though, they get the benefits of having a state of the art new stadium in the city.
Look at the Adelaide Oval upgrades. They were massive for the culture of the city. I think Perth are pretty happy with their stadium as well.
RussellEbertHandball
Flick pass expert
In post #2 of this thread on 8th of February I wrote about the original 80,000 seat stadium proposal at Albion, to be built on the Albion Paceway / trotting track, 3 train stations NE of central and was the main proposed stadium option from 2019 until about April/May 2021, until John Coates swung his fellow members at the IOC, to accept a 50,000 seat main stadium for Brisbane, unlike the 80,000 ones Paris and LA have, and the Gabba then went into the Bid Book for the July 2021 vote.
It also tied in with the $6bil Cross River Rail proposal of 6 stations, 4 new underground ones and 2 significantly upgraded, a 10km track, 6kms under the CBD and Brisbane River, commenced in 2020, Albert St was the new CBD station, Wollongabba gets a big new station which is upgraded from the original plans to suit the Gabba being the main Olympic station, and there are light rail projects also planned in 2020 with a couple of them linking up with the new Wollongabba station.
The Gabba made sense from the above infrastructure POV, but it was a bad decision given the Gabba is land locked by 4 major roads and it would be a zoo traffic wise, for 4 years during the knock down and rebuild phases. It was always going to be more expensive than the original cost compared to a $1bil 80,000 seater at a greendfields site at Albion. There just isn't enough room at the Gabba and I have no idea where they were going to build the warm up track for athletics participants.
But when Palaszczuk left it made it politically viable for the new premier Steven Miles to effectively ditch the Gabba because of a $1.7bil blow out in cost, called for a 60 day review, put in ex LNP Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk in charge and Coates effectively killed the Gabba as per the OP in this thread.
On the Olympics board I wrote about the options Coates hinted at -
I expect either the original Albion option to be recommended, but a cheaper 60,000 seater than an 80,000 seater or the cheaper short term option of redeveloping the QEII stadium at Mt Gravatt which is now called Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre (QSAC) and the suburb renamed to Nathan.
They could use the London Olympics meccano set option of the 60,000 seater for the Olympics that is dismantled and a 20,000 seater left permanently as the home of athletics in Qld and maybe the home of athletics in Oz like London was supposed to be. But UK governments intervened and the 80,000 seater is now a 60,000 seater with moving seats at the ground tier, and West Ham use it for its home ground and occasionally a big athletics meet is held there. And there is a warm track there already in the area..
QSAC is 12 km south of Brisbane and has good bus network transport, but no rail stations anywhere close by.
Albion is a better option for a new stadium over QSAC, but it would mean the death of the Gabba. A 60,000 seater is too big for the needs of AFL and cricket now, but 20 years time it could be very well the right size if Brisbane population gets to 4.2mil as projected by 2050.
When I lived in Brisbane 20 years ago, when ever there was a proposal to develop Victoria Park it was quickly knock down by the then Labor Lord mayor and council. Even LNP's Campbell Newman was against it when he was Lord Mayor, but the council was still a majority Labor council in his first term.
However, I was unaware that 5 years ago the Brisbane City Council started making plans to develop Victoria Park, but with limited number of buildings on it, more a big community recreation park.
Remember the Brisbane City Council isn't like most Oz capital cities councils that just administer the CBD inner neighbourhoods of those cities. Its boundaries spread far and wide and 1.25m people live within those boundaries of the 2.60m who live in greater metro Brisbane.
From June 2023 saying only temporary Olympic sports would be hosted by the park. The equestrian cross country events and BMX freestyle.
The plan to overhaul Victoria Park has now been finalised as the Brisbane City Council moves into the construction phase for the expansive central green space. Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner released the master plan on Wednesday for the transformation of the inner-city golf course into a 64-hectare parkland.
“Victoria Park represents a unique opportunity to deliver a new destination for Brisbane that is loved by residents and visitors alike,” he said when handing down the council’s budget. “Restoring the natural landscape, wetlands and watering holes, massively increasing tree cover and introducing nature-based play spaces, including a treehouse, are all part of the exciting final plan.”
In response to feedback from the community, council said it boosted the green component of the project by removing a number of proposed built structures from the draft plan, including the multi-level carpark, visitor centre and some of the concrete plazas.
“Instead, the final plan creates an incredible urban forest that prioritises open space, adventure and discovery,” Mr Schrinner said.
........
Victoria Park will also play a major role during the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games as host venue of the equestrian cross country event and BMX freestyle. “What Expo 88’ did for South Bank, the Brisbane 2032 Games can do for Victoria Park,” Mr Schrinner said. “Those parts of the park that will host venues will be transformed after the Games, which is common sense.
11th February 2024 Courier Mail says the Victoria Park redevelopment has stalled.
Almost five years since the Lord Mayor unveiled plans to revamp Victoria Park, the Council still cannot estimate the total project cost, or provide a timeline outlining when each piece of the jigsaw puzzle will be ready for residents to enjoy.
What is known is that the LNP administration has spent $33 million to-date on the design and early works, and the Schrinner council committed a further $141 million to the project over four years which will run through to the end of the 2026/27 financial year.
A month out from the election, the Greens say there is not enough transparency around the decision-making, while Labor believes the project should be “put on hold” amid a $400m budget blackhole and said the cost of what has been achieved so far is “mind-blowing”.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner announced his Victoria Park vision in June 2019. This project is particularly significant because at the time, he had only been in the city’s top job for two months, having taken over from Graham Quirk.
In mid-2023, following community consultation, the Council released a Master Plan outlining the area’s transformation from a golf course to a 64-hectare green space for all ages.
The main features are a bike and skate park; high ropes course; revitalised wetlands and waterholes; water play area; community sports precinct with multipurpose court, cricket nets, and tennis courts; function centre with bistro and golf driving range; a pedestrian and cycle bridge; and all with Kelvin Grove and Herston busway access.
Temporary facilities will also be installed in the park to host equestrian cross country and BMX events in the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. But this comes with a setback, major elements such as the revitalised wetlands and waterholes cannot be progressed until after the 2032 Games, because the significant work required could be undone during installation of the temporary Games facilities.
Then 28th February - the public lobbying for plans for Victoria Park to be used to developed as a site for the main stadium and other Olympic venues, starts.
A 50,000-seat stadium should be built at Victoria Park, Suncorp Stadium upgraded and the Gabba transformed into a Madison Square Garden-style arena as part of a “golden triangle” events precinct for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, a Brisbane power couple has declared.
Frustrated with talk of a “cut-price Olympics”, former South Bank chairman Steve Wilson and his company director wife Jane have called for Brisbane not to squib the opportunity to build transformative Games infrastructure.
The Wilsons, disappointed with the increasing focus on cost over legacy, have called for Brisbane residents and stakeholders to spend the cash and ensure the city’s sporting venues were among the world’s best.
“We couldn’t sit by and watch us have the worst own goal and run with a cut-price Olympics … having waited 30 years since Sydney for our chance to shine,” Mr Wilson said.
“These dollars of expenditure are simply bringing forward to a deadline what are necessary anyway.
“Suncorp is not big enough for the NRL Grand Final, World Cup Rugby and Taylor Swift, the Gabba has dropped to number five test cricket venue and could go lower … everybody in Brisbane knows Boondal is a dog. “We’ve got to call it out because you can get these cheap points by saying we’ll slash the price and pour it into public housing – this is dedicated venue money.”
Mr Wilson, who chaired the South Bank Corporation board between 1996 and 2012, has proposed new and upgraded sporting and events venues – dubbed the “three pearls of Brisbane”.He is calling for a 48,000-seat circle stadium at Victoria Park, modelled on the Sydney Cricket Ground, to be built for cricket and AFL.
“It’s got the three necessary principals, it’s rich with existing and soon-to-be-completed public transport, it’s central and it will stimulate precinct growth,” he said.
3rd March 2024 The Courier Mail's sister publication, The Sunday Mail, calls for Victoria Park to become the main Olympic hub and details the private architects working on the proposal. When I lived in Brisbane I remember the Inner City Bypass could be a pain to drive on, heaps of traffic, especially just north of Victoria Park, where the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital is and where you have all the on off ramps for diverging roads. Don't know how much traffic has been diverted via the Clem Jones tunnel, but there are probably 800k more people living in Brisbane than 20 years ago.
We need to dream big if Queensland is to fulfil its Olympic expectations.
And architect Peter Edwards is the sort of person who knows how to take a dream, put up the scaffolding and turn it into reality. Edwards, founder of architect firm Archipelago, is part of a team of local business leaders determined to change a growing “white elephant’’ perception of the 2032 Olympic Games. This energetic team believes Spring Hill’s Victoria Park could be transformed into a world-class sporting, events and knowledge precinct featuring the world’s premier swimming centre.
The plan – dubbed “Brisbane Bold’’ – incorporates a site on each side of the Inner City Bypass at Spring Hill, connected above the motorway, and transformed into a 90ha, Melbourne Park-style sporting and events venue precinct with a 70,000-seat stadium and indoor arena.
Victoria Park would feature three stadiums, a knowledge precinct and 5000 apartments used as an athlete’s village during the 2032 Games. Edwards says the heritage of Centenary Pool would be preserved alongside a new swimming centre which he believes could be the envy of the world.Such a precinct would provide this city with the ability to host a second AFL team, regain status as Australia’s premier first Test cricket venue and lure athletes from all over the globe.
The bold, ambitious but not unrealistic vision is outlined in a story in The Sunday Mail today. It could well serve as the catalyst to not only transform the landscape of the state capital, but inject some new vigour into the Olympic dream which has faltered over the past year.
......
Former Brisbane lord mayor Graham Quirk, leading the independent review of Brisbane 2032 venue infrastructure and due to report to State Development and Infrastructure Minister Grace Grace on March 18, is no doubt looking at every option.
The Victoria Park vision is now one of those options.
The story mentioned by the editor in last Sunday's paper is linked here. There are lots of renders in the link. It looks like the 3 venues are the main stadium, a velodrome and large indoor arena.
Victoria Park could be transformed into a world-class sporting, events and knowledge precinct for a similar price as the current plan to demolish and rebuild the Gabba and build Brisbane Arena over the Roma Street railway.
Incredible new images have been revealed, showcasing exactly how the sprawling parklands would be connected above the Inner City Bypass to create a massive 90ha sporting and events venue precinct with a 70,000-seat stadium and Brisbane indoor arena.
Peter Edwards, the founder of architect firm Archipelago, said his Brisbane Bold plan would create a long-lasting legacy for the city, which would be used during the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond.
Echoing the comments of former South Bank chair Steve Wilson on Wednesday, Mr Edwards noted the $500m per year expenditure on the Olympic infrastructure was “not that much” compared to the state’s $87bn annual budget – including $15bn in coal royalties alone.
........
Mr Edwards also called for an active transport ‘green line’ throughout the city to link the University of Queensland at St Lucia with the Gabba, South Bank, Victoria Park’s new Olympic precinct and Northshore Hamilton.
The proposal has been submitted to Mr Quirk’s 60-day infrastructure review, due to report to State Development Minister Grace Grace by March 18.
......
Mr Edwards noted the Victoria Park site was within a 20-minute walk of three railway stations – including Exhibition on the $6.3bn Cross River Rail.
5th March and of course the Lions love the proposal
So is Victoria Park going to be the #1 proposal of former Brisbane lord mayor Graham Quirk's review, that he hands to the Olympics minister Grace Grace on 18th March?? I don't know, but there seems to be a very orchestrated approach to ditch the Gabba and go for this proposal over the Albion site or the cheaper QSAC upgrade.
I think there will be a bit of a shit fight from local residents about Victoria Park, but Queensland being Queensland, excuse the pun, but I think this proposal will be bulldozed thru, if there are significant costs savings, and better long term legacy results.
Whatever option is chosen, the Gabba is dead in respect of a significant upgrade, be it in the vicinity of $500m or $1bil+.
It also tied in with the $6bil Cross River Rail proposal of 6 stations, 4 new underground ones and 2 significantly upgraded, a 10km track, 6kms under the CBD and Brisbane River, commenced in 2020, Albert St was the new CBD station, Wollongabba gets a big new station which is upgraded from the original plans to suit the Gabba being the main Olympic station, and there are light rail projects also planned in 2020 with a couple of them linking up with the new Wollongabba station.
The Gabba made sense from the above infrastructure POV, but it was a bad decision given the Gabba is land locked by 4 major roads and it would be a zoo traffic wise, for 4 years during the knock down and rebuild phases. It was always going to be more expensive than the original cost compared to a $1bil 80,000 seater at a greendfields site at Albion. There just isn't enough room at the Gabba and I have no idea where they were going to build the warm up track for athletics participants.
But when Palaszczuk left it made it politically viable for the new premier Steven Miles to effectively ditch the Gabba because of a $1.7bil blow out in cost, called for a 60 day review, put in ex LNP Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk in charge and Coates effectively killed the Gabba as per the OP in this thread.
On the Olympics board I wrote about the options Coates hinted at -
I expect either the original Albion option to be recommended, but a cheaper 60,000 seater than an 80,000 seater or the cheaper short term option of redeveloping the QEII stadium at Mt Gravatt which is now called Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre (QSAC) and the suburb renamed to Nathan.
They could use the London Olympics meccano set option of the 60,000 seater for the Olympics that is dismantled and a 20,000 seater left permanently as the home of athletics in Qld and maybe the home of athletics in Oz like London was supposed to be. But UK governments intervened and the 80,000 seater is now a 60,000 seater with moving seats at the ground tier, and West Ham use it for its home ground and occasionally a big athletics meet is held there. And there is a warm track there already in the area..
QSAC is 12 km south of Brisbane and has good bus network transport, but no rail stations anywhere close by.
Albion is a better option for a new stadium over QSAC, but it would mean the death of the Gabba. A 60,000 seater is too big for the needs of AFL and cricket now, but 20 years time it could be very well the right size if Brisbane population gets to 4.2mil as projected by 2050.
When I lived in Brisbane 20 years ago, when ever there was a proposal to develop Victoria Park it was quickly knock down by the then Labor Lord mayor and council. Even LNP's Campbell Newman was against it when he was Lord Mayor, but the council was still a majority Labor council in his first term.
However, I was unaware that 5 years ago the Brisbane City Council started making plans to develop Victoria Park, but with limited number of buildings on it, more a big community recreation park.
Remember the Brisbane City Council isn't like most Oz capital cities councils that just administer the CBD inner neighbourhoods of those cities. Its boundaries spread far and wide and 1.25m people live within those boundaries of the 2.60m who live in greater metro Brisbane.
From June 2023 saying only temporary Olympic sports would be hosted by the park. The equestrian cross country events and BMX freestyle.
Final vision for huge inner-Brisbane park revealed
Brisbane City Council has released incredible new renders and footage of its planned Victoria Park transformation, with the Lord Mayor saying the 2032 Games will do for Victoria Park what Expo ‘88 did for South Bank.The plan to overhaul Victoria Park has now been finalised as the Brisbane City Council moves into the construction phase for the expansive central green space. Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner released the master plan on Wednesday for the transformation of the inner-city golf course into a 64-hectare parkland.
“Victoria Park represents a unique opportunity to deliver a new destination for Brisbane that is loved by residents and visitors alike,” he said when handing down the council’s budget. “Restoring the natural landscape, wetlands and watering holes, massively increasing tree cover and introducing nature-based play spaces, including a treehouse, are all part of the exciting final plan.”
In response to feedback from the community, council said it boosted the green component of the project by removing a number of proposed built structures from the draft plan, including the multi-level carpark, visitor centre and some of the concrete plazas.
“Instead, the final plan creates an incredible urban forest that prioritises open space, adventure and discovery,” Mr Schrinner said.
........
Victoria Park will also play a major role during the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games as host venue of the equestrian cross country event and BMX freestyle. “What Expo 88’ did for South Bank, the Brisbane 2032 Games can do for Victoria Park,” Mr Schrinner said. “Those parts of the park that will host venues will be transformed after the Games, which is common sense.
11th February 2024 Courier Mail says the Victoria Park redevelopment has stalled.
Victoria Park revamp remains a mystery, as Brisbane City Council unable to give details on full cost and release dates
Almost five years and $33 million since the Lord Mayor unveiled plans to revamp Victoria Park, Brisbane City Council still cannot estimate the total project cost, or provide a timeline outlining when any of it will be ready for residents to enjoy.Almost five years since the Lord Mayor unveiled plans to revamp Victoria Park, the Council still cannot estimate the total project cost, or provide a timeline outlining when each piece of the jigsaw puzzle will be ready for residents to enjoy.
What is known is that the LNP administration has spent $33 million to-date on the design and early works, and the Schrinner council committed a further $141 million to the project over four years which will run through to the end of the 2026/27 financial year.
A month out from the election, the Greens say there is not enough transparency around the decision-making, while Labor believes the project should be “put on hold” amid a $400m budget blackhole and said the cost of what has been achieved so far is “mind-blowing”.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner announced his Victoria Park vision in June 2019. This project is particularly significant because at the time, he had only been in the city’s top job for two months, having taken over from Graham Quirk.
In mid-2023, following community consultation, the Council released a Master Plan outlining the area’s transformation from a golf course to a 64-hectare green space for all ages.
The main features are a bike and skate park; high ropes course; revitalised wetlands and waterholes; water play area; community sports precinct with multipurpose court, cricket nets, and tennis courts; function centre with bistro and golf driving range; a pedestrian and cycle bridge; and all with Kelvin Grove and Herston busway access.
Temporary facilities will also be installed in the park to host equestrian cross country and BMX events in the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. But this comes with a setback, major elements such as the revitalised wetlands and waterholes cannot be progressed until after the 2032 Games, because the significant work required could be undone during installation of the temporary Games facilities.
Then 28th February - the public lobbying for plans for Victoria Park to be used to developed as a site for the main stadium and other Olympic venues, starts.
Bold Games plan puts stadium at Victoria Park, arena at the Gabba
A 50,000-seat stadium at Victoria Park, an upgraded Suncorp Stadium and the Gabba transformed into a Madison Square Garden-style arena, all part of bold proposal for 2032 Games.A 50,000-seat stadium should be built at Victoria Park, Suncorp Stadium upgraded and the Gabba transformed into a Madison Square Garden-style arena as part of a “golden triangle” events precinct for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, a Brisbane power couple has declared.
Frustrated with talk of a “cut-price Olympics”, former South Bank chairman Steve Wilson and his company director wife Jane have called for Brisbane not to squib the opportunity to build transformative Games infrastructure.
The Wilsons, disappointed with the increasing focus on cost over legacy, have called for Brisbane residents and stakeholders to spend the cash and ensure the city’s sporting venues were among the world’s best.
“We couldn’t sit by and watch us have the worst own goal and run with a cut-price Olympics … having waited 30 years since Sydney for our chance to shine,” Mr Wilson said.
“These dollars of expenditure are simply bringing forward to a deadline what are necessary anyway.
“Suncorp is not big enough for the NRL Grand Final, World Cup Rugby and Taylor Swift, the Gabba has dropped to number five test cricket venue and could go lower … everybody in Brisbane knows Boondal is a dog. “We’ve got to call it out because you can get these cheap points by saying we’ll slash the price and pour it into public housing – this is dedicated venue money.”
Mr Wilson, who chaired the South Bank Corporation board between 1996 and 2012, has proposed new and upgraded sporting and events venues – dubbed the “three pearls of Brisbane”.He is calling for a 48,000-seat circle stadium at Victoria Park, modelled on the Sydney Cricket Ground, to be built for cricket and AFL.
“It’s got the three necessary principals, it’s rich with existing and soon-to-be-completed public transport, it’s central and it will stimulate precinct growth,” he said.
3rd March 2024 The Courier Mail's sister publication, The Sunday Mail, calls for Victoria Park to become the main Olympic hub and details the private architects working on the proposal. When I lived in Brisbane I remember the Inner City Bypass could be a pain to drive on, heaps of traffic, especially just north of Victoria Park, where the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital is and where you have all the on off ramps for diverging roads. Don't know how much traffic has been diverted via the Clem Jones tunnel, but there are probably 800k more people living in Brisbane than 20 years ago.
The editor: Victoria Park now part of our Olympics vision
We need to dream big if Queensland is to fulfil its Olympic expectations, and the Victoria Park vision featuring a world-class sporting, events and knowledge precinct is now one of those options, writes the editor.We need to dream big if Queensland is to fulfil its Olympic expectations.
And architect Peter Edwards is the sort of person who knows how to take a dream, put up the scaffolding and turn it into reality. Edwards, founder of architect firm Archipelago, is part of a team of local business leaders determined to change a growing “white elephant’’ perception of the 2032 Olympic Games. This energetic team believes Spring Hill’s Victoria Park could be transformed into a world-class sporting, events and knowledge precinct featuring the world’s premier swimming centre.
The plan – dubbed “Brisbane Bold’’ – incorporates a site on each side of the Inner City Bypass at Spring Hill, connected above the motorway, and transformed into a 90ha, Melbourne Park-style sporting and events venue precinct with a 70,000-seat stadium and indoor arena.
Victoria Park would feature three stadiums, a knowledge precinct and 5000 apartments used as an athlete’s village during the 2032 Games. Edwards says the heritage of Centenary Pool would be preserved alongside a new swimming centre which he believes could be the envy of the world.Such a precinct would provide this city with the ability to host a second AFL team, regain status as Australia’s premier first Test cricket venue and lure athletes from all over the globe.
The bold, ambitious but not unrealistic vision is outlined in a story in The Sunday Mail today. It could well serve as the catalyst to not only transform the landscape of the state capital, but inject some new vigour into the Olympic dream which has faltered over the past year.
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Former Brisbane lord mayor Graham Quirk, leading the independent review of Brisbane 2032 venue infrastructure and due to report to State Development and Infrastructure Minister Grace Grace on March 18, is no doubt looking at every option.
The Victoria Park vision is now one of those options.
The story mentioned by the editor in last Sunday's paper is linked here. There are lots of renders in the link. It looks like the 3 venues are the main stadium, a velodrome and large indoor arena.
Brisbane 2032: Incredible vision proposed to give Victoria Park a pivotal Games role and legacy
Incredible new images have been released, showcasing how Victoria Park would be extended over the Inner City Bypass and used to host Olympics events. SEE THE PICTURES.Victoria Park could be transformed into a world-class sporting, events and knowledge precinct for a similar price as the current plan to demolish and rebuild the Gabba and build Brisbane Arena over the Roma Street railway.
Incredible new images have been revealed, showcasing exactly how the sprawling parklands would be connected above the Inner City Bypass to create a massive 90ha sporting and events venue precinct with a 70,000-seat stadium and Brisbane indoor arena.
Peter Edwards, the founder of architect firm Archipelago, said his Brisbane Bold plan would create a long-lasting legacy for the city, which would be used during the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond.
Echoing the comments of former South Bank chair Steve Wilson on Wednesday, Mr Edwards noted the $500m per year expenditure on the Olympic infrastructure was “not that much” compared to the state’s $87bn annual budget – including $15bn in coal royalties alone.
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Mr Edwards also called for an active transport ‘green line’ throughout the city to link the University of Queensland at St Lucia with the Gabba, South Bank, Victoria Park’s new Olympic precinct and Northshore Hamilton.
The proposal has been submitted to Mr Quirk’s 60-day infrastructure review, due to report to State Development Minister Grace Grace by March 18.
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Mr Edwards noted the Victoria Park site was within a 20-minute walk of three railway stations – including Exhibition on the $6.3bn Cross River Rail.
5th March and of course the Lions love the proposal
‘Great opportunity’: Lions boss backs bold Victoria Park vision for Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games
The boss of the Brisbane Lions has backed a “Brisbane Bold” plan to build a massive 90ha sporting and events precinct complete with 70,000-seat stadium at Victoria Park, saying the club thinks it’s a “great opportunity”.So is Victoria Park going to be the #1 proposal of former Brisbane lord mayor Graham Quirk's review, that he hands to the Olympics minister Grace Grace on 18th March?? I don't know, but there seems to be a very orchestrated approach to ditch the Gabba and go for this proposal over the Albion site or the cheaper QSAC upgrade.
I think there will be a bit of a shit fight from local residents about Victoria Park, but Queensland being Queensland, excuse the pun, but I think this proposal will be bulldozed thru, if there are significant costs savings, and better long term legacy results.
Whatever option is chosen, the Gabba is dead in respect of a significant upgrade, be it in the vicinity of $500m or $1bil+.
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RussellEbertHandball
Flick pass expert
Just on the politics of the Brisbane City Council.
There are 27 elected representatives including Lord Mayor and 26 Ward Councillors. Current status is LNP 20 inc the Lord Mayor, Labor 5, Greens 1, Independent 1.
Unlike Sydney Olympics which was 100% controlled by NSW government, who did have to work with smaller councils, including Sydney City Council, and the feds, 2032 is a 50/50 partnership between the feds and Qld government, but 11 SE Qld councils have signed on to the agreement.
There are 27 elected representatives including Lord Mayor and 26 Ward Councillors. Current status is LNP 20 inc the Lord Mayor, Labor 5, Greens 1, Independent 1.
Unlike Sydney Olympics which was 100% controlled by NSW government, who did have to work with smaller councils, including Sydney City Council, and the feds, 2032 is a 50/50 partnership between the feds and Qld government, but 11 SE Qld councils have signed on to the agreement.
Lions back 70k-seat Brisbane stadium plan in major step after $2.7bn Gabba rebuild falls apart
Cunnington Cartel if a 70k stadium does go ahead for the Lions, do you think they'd be able to fill it out by the 2040s with a growing waiting list to justify a 2nd Brisbane team for future expansion?
I have no clue as to whether they could achieve that but with a capacity that big potentially, the AFL would surely be keen for 1 game per week there.
Cunnington Cartel if a 70k stadium does go ahead for the Lions, do you think they'd be able to fill it out by the 2040s with a growing waiting list to justify a 2nd Brisbane team for future expansion?
I have no clue as to whether they could achieve that but with a capacity that big potentially, the AFL would surely be keen for 1 game per week there.
If you split the support for AFL in Brisbane, then any new stadium would never be filled.
If it was a 50k stadium I think that could be a different story in the timeframe we're talking, but the proposed 70k is a fair jump.
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