David Crisafulli has apologised to Queenslanders for breaking a major election promise by announcing the construction of a new stadium as part of Brisbane’s $7billion plan for the 2032 Olympics.
Mr Crisafulli repeatedly pledged not to build any new stadiums on the campaign trail in the lead up to last year’s state elections.
A 63,000-seat Brisbane Stadium in Victoria Park was confirmed as the centrepiece of the redevelopment package following a 100-day review.
Mr Crisafulli said there was ‘no longer time’ to upgrade the historic Gabba stadium which will be cleared to make way for a residential development.
‘It became a choice between the embarrassment of hosting the games at [the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre] or a new stadium at Victoria Park,’ he said.
‘In the end, the choice was clear. The Games must be held at a new stadium at Victoria Park.’
The Labor government shelved an earlier proposal to construct the Brisbane Live arena at Roma Street after the project failed to secure $2.5billion in federal taxpayer funding.
The new entertainment hub will be constructed at an industrial site alongside the Gabba stadium.
Mr Crisafulli was asked how he planned to cop the consequences of the unpopular decision during the announcement on Tuesday.
Pictured is an artist’s impression of the proposed athlete’s village at Maroochydore
Pictured is an impression of the proposed site plan for the Queensland Tennis Centre
‘By being honest and copping that on the chin,’ he said.
‘You’re right, and I have to own that, and I will, and I am sorry, and it’s my decision, and I accept that decision.’
Protesters are reported to have gathered outside the venue where Mr Crisafulli announced the sprawling development.
Following the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the stadium will host home games for the Brisbane Lions and Cricket Australia matches.
The Brisbane Stadium development is only one of a slew of developments earmarked under the plan including a new national aquatic centre, an athletes village and an upgraded 20,000 seat arena at the Brisbane Shogrounds and a 3,000-seat show court arena at the Queensland Tennis Centre.
The national aquatic centre and a number of new pools will be developed at the site of the Centenary Pool at Spring Hill in a broader bid to attract sporting bodies to move their headquarters to Brisbane.
Mr Crisafulli said the new aquatic centre, designed to fit 25,000 spectators during the Games and 8,000 following their conclusion will be the ‘best acquatic centre in the globe’.
The plan also provided for 12 new tennis match courts alongside the sprawling show court arena in order to prevent the tournament from being hosted in Melbourne.
Pictured is an impression of the proposed site plan for the Queensland Tennis Centre
The plan also provided for a Redland Whitewater Centre (artist’s impression)
‘Melbourne will not be taking the tennis from Brisbane – not on our watch,’ Mr Crisafulli said on Tuesday.
The state government also revealed plans to develop indoor sports centres at Logan and Moreton Bay as well as a whitewater rafting centre in Redland City.
Brisbane won the rights to host the 2032 Games in 2021 when the International Olympic Committee stated the city as its ‘preferred candidate’ based on its previous successes in hosting international sporting events.
More to come.
