News Gabba Upgrade & Olympics News

[Iron Turtle]

An article about the open letter from 14 athletes

https://www.cairnspost.com.au/news/...k=7c6c3c00cc88ad9df801c4d7840fb3b1-1712023215

web archived version - https://archive.md/F8q7G

 

[Dalions]

An article about the open letter from 14 athletes

https://www.cairnspost.com.au/news/...k=7c6c3c00cc88ad9df801c4d7840fb3b1-1712023215

web archived version - https://archive.md/F8q7G

Stubborn ****er

 

[BuntonRules]

Stubborn *er

W****r, more like it.

 

[Section 5]

An article about the open letter from 14 athletes

https://www.cairnspost.com.au/news/...k=7c6c3c00cc88ad9df801c4d7840fb3b1-1712023215

web archived version - https://archive.md/F8q7G

The athletes' open letter like just about everyone else on the Brisbane Olympics is going about this the wrong way.
I have said many times The Brisbane Arena funded by the Commonwealth is where they should be aiming their displeasure.

Drop that $2.5 billion project and use $620 million for a new swimming complex at Nathan as the Kirk review mentioned in passing.
You then have $1.9 billion left over, plus the so called $1.6 billion from the ill advised QSAC project to use.
Thats a total of $3.5 billion for a new stadium somewhere, even though they won't need that much unless it is used on The Gabba.
You can move the figures for projects around however you like as long as you end up with around $7.1 billion in total government funding.

So, if they went down the above path there will be another $3.5 billion for the other Olympic sites.
However, they don't need anywhere near this much, see below for funds allocation. Taken from signed Governments agreement.
.16 new or upgraded venues will receive improvements jointly funded by both governments, costing about AUS$1.87 billion

Below a better use of $7.1 billion dollars
$620 million for a brand-new 3 pool swimming complex at Natham being a legacy for swimming. Price from the Kirk report.
$3.5 billion for brand-new Olympic Stadium for athletics, opening/closing ceremonies plus a legacy for AFL & cricket
That above figure of $3.5 billion would be way less if not at The Gabba and say Victoria Park. Remember it is 1 stadium only.
$1.87 billion for 16 new & upgrades venues
$1.11 billion for infostructure.
$7.1 billion in Total

Instead below the proposed $ 7.17 billion Miles spend.
$ 2.5 billion Brisbane Arena. Legacy an Entertainment Center for an Olympic games.
$1.6 billion QSAC. Limited public transport. A long way for athletes to travel from Hamilton. Seating 40k and reduced to 14 k legacy.
$0.6 billion The Gabba improvement
$0.6 billion for Suncorp improvements
$1.87 billion for 16 new and upgrade venues
zero dollars allowed for infostructure that will be needed and have to come out of State treasury monies.
$7.17 billion in total
............................................

How the Media let Miles get away with saying "i can't justify spending $3.4 billion on a Stadium" during a cost-of-living crisis" is bewildering.
He is not spending any less money.
He has stated many times since his backflip that the total funding for the Olympics has remained the same.
Miles will spend the allocated $7.1 billion (he already has it planned, see above) just in different areas than originally planned.

At no time has he said he will put an additional $1 billion to $3.5 billion from Olympic funds into the cost-of-living crisis and he won't.
The media and voters are just buying the rhetoric he is spewing.

 

[Iron Turtle]

The athletes' open letter like just about everyone else on the Brisbane Olympics is going about this the wrong way.
I have said many times The Brisbane Arena funded by the Commonwealth is where they should be aiming their displeasure.

Not really sure about the Brisbane Arena, but I believe its legacy is meant to be a Boondall (BEC) replacement - 17000 seat stadium..

I agree that a better legacy would be to build a specialised swimming stadium/training facility. A BEC replacement is still required as BEC is just a pain (bad location/transport, and very tired), I don't know if it should have a higher priority (I would say lower) than a new/rebuild oval stadium.

 

[Section 5]

Not really sure about the Brisbane Arena, but I believe its legacy is meant to be a Boondall (BEC) replacement - 17000 seat stadium..

I agree that a better legacy would be to build a specialised swimming stadium/training facility. A BEC replacement is still required as BEC is just a pain (bad location/transport, and very tired), I don't know if it should have a higher priority (I would say lower) than a new/rebuild oval stadium.

Yes, the BEC at Boondall needs replacing somewhere closer to the CBD.
i have addressed this before.
There is no reason the State government can't enter into a financial agreement with the 3 interested company's regarding the development of an entertainment center.

Keep it separate from the Olympics. The state government just does not want to pay for it directly.
It does not need to be finished by the Olympics it just needs to be done at some time like a lot of other projects needed in Queensland.
For some reason both the State and Commonwealth government would rather an Entertainment Centre as an Olympic legacy over a sporting stadium both costing about the same.

 

[kranger]

If we consider the three possible stadium sites QSAC, GABBA and Vic Park, then Vic Park is easily the best choice.

QSAC has no transport. It is not central. And it takes away the training facilities during construction. It also does not leave Brisbane with an oval stadium after 2032.

Gabba has transport with the Busway and with Cross River Rail. And it has nearby venues for patrons. However there is just not enough space for a stadium to fit properly. Also the bus and train station are side by side meaning all patrons are heading in the same direction which is terrible for preventing crowd crush instances. A Gabba rebuild also means a temp home is needed for AFL and Cricket during construction.

Vic Park, located in the north eastern portion is ideal. Quirk actually suggested a stadium here could cost only $2b, with the remaining $1.4b of the quoted cost being on other infrastructure.

Vic Park has the transport sorted. Not only does it have the busways and Cross River Rail, but Fortitude Valley Station can be a less than 15min walk with a new pedestrian bridge over the ICB. This means every train line is accessible to the stadium without a transfer.

The 2 bus stations and two trains stations are in different directions which disperses patrons. And patrons may also choose to walk towards the CBD for venues or public car parks.

This leaves a legacy stadium, that has ample space and does not disrupt existing tenants. And such a development would be great as a catalyst for other projects that upgrade the ‘parklands’.

 

[Billy ray]

^ all true
but the legacy left is for the AFL and NRL folks dont like that

 

[BRAB]

Which option protects Grace Grace though?

 

[BigCat2]

Policitcs aside, the answer is very obvious - Vic Park. However with short term thinking dictating politician action, that's not the focus. We can only hope that once the election is won and lost, whoever is in charge can feel sufficiently safe (either through their own conviction, or by proxy via an independent panel) to commit to the project that will give longer term benefits to the city.

I noticed John Coates the other day said if there's going to be a change from current Suncorp/QSAC plan, the IOC will need to approve. Sounds like the corrupt b*stard is prepared to threaten or veto a Vic Park plan, based on his own selfish interests.

What a world we live in.

 

[Zacs_Magic_Tooth]

I think I will be donkey voting. This is the Crisifulli team’s response to an email I sent pretty specifically criticising the non-consideration of Viv Park

 

[Elixuh]

If sanity prevails vic park will get done. If LNP get in they’ll have had plenty of time to spin the proper narrative and seal it with a second review which confirms the Quirk review.

 

[Zacs_Magic_Tooth]

I’m less hopeful now as they really haven’t left themselves any of the grey area politicians love to play in. A Vic Park precinct would be a complete broken promise were it to eventuate. A Gabba rebuild still seems possible but I think it’ll be a missed opportunity

 

[Gadzorks]

I’m less hopeful now as they really haven’t left themselves any of the grey area politicians love to play in. A Vic Park precinct would be a complete broken promise were it to eventuate. A Gabba rebuild still seems possible but I think it’ll be a missed opportunity

Anything not legislated is a grey area.

We can it backflip, broken promises they call it pragmatic.

Games not even at quarter time yet. Plenty of time for vic Park.

 

[briztoon]

If sanity prevails vic park will get done. If LNP get in they’ll have had plenty of time to spin the proper narrative and seal it with a second review which confirms the Quirk review.

I’ve heard Vic Park is pretty much dead as far as the LNP are concerned.

 

[Zacs_Magic_Tooth]

Anything not legislated is a grey area.

We can it backflip, broken promises they call it pragmatic.

Games not even at quarter time yet. Plenty of time for vic Park.

Their statements have been fairly strong so, sure, they might still do it.. If Vic Park is the long term plan though, what a ridiculous corner to willingly back into given the election race was over before this

 

[Happy_Neale]

Vic Park has felt dead for a little while now unfortunately. Can’t see LNP going back on it after their public statements. For whatever reason it looks like a new stadium might be politically unfeasible, so screw everyone else I guess.

 

[Dalions]

Athletics on the GC, small patchwork to the Gabba and Suncorp is what we will see imo.

 

[Pride of lions]

I think I will be donkey voting. This is the Crisifulli team’s response to an email I sent pretty specifically criticising the non-consideration of Viv Park
View attachment 1948765

What a pathetic response. Queensland must have the most small minded politicians in Australia.
Why they ever decided they wanted the Olympics is a mystery, because it is going to be the most farcical and embarrassing event ever seen. And with nothing to show for it after it’s finished. And with the pitiful capacity of the main arena they won’t even get many tourism dollars either. What a debacle.

 

[notliondown]

We reap what we sow.

We cry out for leadership and hard decisions - then vote them out when they give them.

We ask for change and scream bloody murder if it dare affect us individually.

We want more of everything and are willing to give less to achieve it.

We have become selfish and inward looking - and our politicians mirror that. And we retrospectively judge those who dared be different.

It really was too much to ask for these 3 mobs - because let's face it the Greens have mobilised the 2 majors into fearing this stadium as much as anyone - to see the bigger picture. To try and carry the public with them. To see legacy as something worth short term pain.

It seems almost every major "non essential" project in this country has suffered the same small mindedness - the Opera house is a classic example. And yet it like the MCG and Rod Laver are waved in our face everyday as icons of Australia.

I wish I could say I'm surprised that it seems this opportunity to showcase "the Aussie spirit" will pass us by - but I'm not. We lost our courage a while back.

 

[notliondown]

What a pathetic response. Queensland must have the most small minded politicians in Australia.
Why they ever decided they wanted the Olympics is a mystery, because it is going to be the most farcical and embarrassing event ever seen. And with nothing to show for it after it’s finished. And with the pitiful capacity of the main arena they won’t even get many tourism dollars either. What a debacle.

Pretty sure the Vic's throwing the Comm's back at a cost of $500m ranks up there as well.

 

[MSB ROYS]

Which option protects Grace Grace though?

Good chance she will lose.
McConnel electorate last election: 35% Labor, 31% LNP and 28% Green votes. It has been a Labor seat as Brisbane Central except for 2012-2015, which was the last big swing against Labor.The federal seat incorporating this area is now Green.
LNP slogan can be: No GG because of GG.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

We reap what we sow.

We cry out for leadership and hard decisions - then vote them out when they give them.

We ask for change and scream bloody murder if it dare affect us individually.

We want more of everything and are willing to give less to achieve it.

We have become selfish and inward looking - and our politicians mirror that. And we retrospectively judge those who dared be different.

All of this can be applied to push whichever stadium cause somebody wants. It doesn't mean anything. I could easily see how someone supporting QSAC could use the same words to justify their own stance.

 

[notliondown]

All of this can be applied to push whichever stadium cause somebody wants. It doesn't mean anything. I could easily see how someone supporting QSAC could use the same words to justify their own stance.

I wasn't referring to the stadium saga alone... This state of affairs exits when roads are proposed, dams are designed, hospitals and schools located.

There will always be an argument to not do something.

The stadium is symptomatic of the poll driven system of government we have created for ourselves. We are paralysing progress because we are more fixated on preservation than outcomes.

 

[SRH17]

Watching Season 6 of Billions
Part of the story is about the politics of building a stadium in New York in order to win the 2028 Olympics. Mighty similar to what’s going on here.