2032 Delivery Plan: What's in store for Queensland's regional centres

The Queensland Government has released the 2032 Delivery Plan that puts the regions of the Gold Coast, Cairns, Townsville, Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Mackay-Whitsunday, and Rockhampton on the roadmap for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

The Plan highlights that the Games will not just be for Brisbane, and it recognises the value in the State’s regional centres to host Olympic events while also driving tourism opportunities and supporting community grassroots sports. 

“These Games are a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver an infrastructure, tourism and grassroots sports legacy to benefit all of Queensland. 

“Delivering 2032 and Beyond sets the plan to build much more than what’s needed for a few weeks of competition. 

“This is a plan that builds for our future, ensuring regional communities continue to benefit for decades to come. 

“That includes delivering critical upgrades to the spine of our transport network, the Bruce Highway, between Cairns and Brisbane. 

“Come 2032, through better connectivity and the right infrastructure, [the regions] will be ready to open [their] doors not only to the Games but to more tourists, more employment and more opportunities,” Premier David Crisafulli said. 

Below is a list of what each region is in the box seat for:

Gold Coast 

• Upgrades to the Gold Coast Convention Centre and a new Gold Coast Arena 

• Upgrades to the Gold Coast Hockey Centre to host hockey for the Games 

• Hosting athletes and team officials in one of the three key Athlete Villages, which will later be transformed to housing 

• The opportunity to host the iconic triathlon and marathon swimming events at the Southport Broadwater Parklands 

• Brisbane to Gold Coast Faster Rail, with new stations, and future stages of the Coomera Connector 

• A share in the $250 million Games On! programs with upgrades to grassroots community clubs 

Cairns 

• Major upgrades to Barlow Park Stadium including a new grandstand with a permanent seating capacity of 5,000 to support Cairns attracting major event hosting opportunities like football 

• The opportunity for the Cairns Convention Centre to host events 

• The opportunity to host sports including football and cricket 

• Major upgrades to the Cairns Arterial Road between Redlynch Connector Road and the Captain Cook Highway 

• Bruce Highway upgrades as part of the $9 billion investment between Brisbane and Cairns 

• Leveraging the 20-year tourism plan for initiatives like Wangetti Trail 

• A share in the $250 million Games On! Programs with upgrades to grassroots community clubs 

Townsville 

• The opportunity for the city to co-host the sailing with the Whitsundays, making use of its waterfront setting 

• The opportunity to host Olympic football matches at the North Queensland Stadium 

• Bruse Highway upgrades as part of the $9 billion investment between Brisbane and Cairns 

• Leveraging the 20-year tourism plan for new tourism initiatives 

• A share in the $250 million Games On! Programs with upgrades to grassroots community clubs 

Wide Bay 

• Opportunity to host archery in Maryborough 

• Upgrade to the Bruce Highway at Walker Street, with a major intersection overhaul to boost safety 

• Upgrade to the Bruce Highway with a new Tiaro Bypass to increase safety and flood immunity, as part of the $9 billion investment between Brisbane and Cairns 

• Leveraging the 20-year tourism plan for new tourism initiatives 

• A share in the $250 million Games On! Programs with upgrades to grassroots community clubs 

Sunshine Coast 

• Upgrades to the Sunshine Coast Stadium in Kawana Sports Precinct 

• Upgrades to the Sunshine Coast Mountain Bike Centre 

• Transformation of the Maroochydore City Centre with a new Athlete Village, arena and cultural precinct 

• Delivery of The Wave – a seamless public transport connection all the way to the Sunshine Coast Airport, with direct rail from Beerwah to Birtinya, and metro from Birtinya to the Sunshine Coast Airport via Maroochydore 

• A share in the $250 million Games On! Programs with upgrades to grassroots community clubs 

Toowoomba 

• Major upgrade to the Toowoomba Showgrounds to host the Equestrian events and become an Equestrian Centre of Excellence 

• The Equestrian Centre of Excellence could include additional arenas, stables and warm-up facilities and new amenities as well as an upgraded and lengthened cross country course 

• Leveraging the 20-year tourism plan for new tourism initiatives 

• A share in the $250 million Games On! Programs with upgrades to grassroots community clubs 

Mackay-Whitsunday 

• Major upgrades to Harrup Park to enable the region to host cricket matches, for the proposed second-ever Summer Olympics cricket competition 

• The opportunity for Whitsundays to co-host sailing 

• Extensive Bruce Highway upgrades at Goorganga Plains, as part of the $9 billion investment between Brisbane and Cairns 

• Leveraging the 20-year tourism plan for initiatives like the Airlie Beach SkyWay 

• A share in the $250 million Games On! Programs with upgrades to grassroots community clubs 

Rockhampton 

• Upgrades to the Rockhampton Fitzroy Rowing Club to host rowing and canoe sprint events on the Fitzroy River 

• Hosting athletes and team officials in new Athlete Village at the Railyards Rejuvenation precinct, which will later be transformed to housing 

• Upgrading the Rockhampton Ring Road on the Bruce Highway as part of the $9 billion investment between Brisbane and Cairns 

• Leveraging the 20-year tourism plan for new tourism initiatives 

• A share in the $250 million Games On! Programs with upgrades to grassroots community clubs 

Source: Queensland Government – Media Statements (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)