QLD jump starts preparation for 2032 Olympic & Paralympic Games

Plans for a major revitalisation of Woolloongabba and the Gabba Stadium have been revealed by the Queensland Government in a major move to prepare the region for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

The plans include the full demolition of the existing Gabba Stadium to pave the way for it to be rebuilt. This anchors a major urban renewal that will involve the delivering more housing, including social and affordable housing options. 

Four options were considered for the redevelopment of the Stadium. Options included variations of full demolition and rebuild, refurbishment of the existing stadium, and partial demolition and refurbishment. 

“We know hosting the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to accelerate the infrastructure and housing we need to support a growing Queensland. 

“Woolloongabba has the potential to be the next bustling precinct, but that can’t happen without a coordinated approach,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said. 

Given the complexity of working on a constrained project site, the complete demolition and rebuild option was chosen as it is cheaper than trying to refurbish the stadium to a truly accessible, modern standard. 

The chosen redevelopment option will also enable the State Government to achieve its aim of being a catalyst for neighbourhood renewal and investment while attracting and hosting world-class events. 

The redeveloped stadium will feature: 

• Changeroom facilities for female athletes 
• Larger entry concourses for general admission 
• Lifts and escalators 
• Range of dining options and member spaces, including kitchens and food and beverage outlets and a general store 
• Merchandise stores 
• Media facilities 
• Team facilities with direct access to pitches and practice wickets 
• Construction contingency 
• Targeted 6-star green star rating 

The new stadium will also include a new pedestrian walkway that links the Gabba to the new Cross River Rail station and future Metro station, via a bridge over Main Street. The pedestrian links will provide better accessibility for all levels of mobility, making the Gabba one of the most accessible stadiums in Australia. 

“The Gabba has hosted sport for more than a century and is home to cricket and AFL most weeks of the year. 

“But it’s no secret that Queensland is losing out on major sporting events already – and the tourism, jobs and investment that come with them because The Gabba is not up to scratch. 

“It must be upgraded to maintain our competitiveness for international sport and events,” the Premier said. 

Artist impression of a redeveloped Gabba Stadium (source: Queensland Government)

Plans for the Gabba Stadium redevelopment will also include refurbishing and repurposing heritage buildings within the East Brisbane State School (EBSS) and integrating them into the stadium. Community consultation on several options for the East Brisbane State School will now get underway. 

The Department of Education presents three options for the East Brisbane State School, including: 

• Relocating the school to new facilities at the Coorparoo Secondary College site 
• Merging the school with Coorparoo Secondary College to become a P-12 school 
• Students at EBSS to enrol at other local schools, with additional infrastructure built at those schools if needed 

“I always said we would carry out consultation with the school community as soon as we knew more about the impact of the Gabba redevelopment on the school. 

“The plans announced today make it clear that the school cannot remain at its current location beyond December 2025, so that consultation will now begin. 

“I am absolutely committed to ensuring every single member of the school community gets to have their say about the future of East Brisbane State School,” Education Minister Grace Grace said. 

With the preferred option for the redevelopment of Gabba Stadium confirmed, the State Government will now continue working to finalise the Project Validation Report. 

A competitive tender process for the redevelopment is due to be released to market in the second half of 2023 as the final design process for the stadium is carried out. 

Major construction is projected to take four years to complete from 2026, with the new Gabba Stadium ready for use by 2030. 

The revitalisation of Woolloongabba, on the other hand, will include the delivery of an active travel corridor to South Bank and the CBD while expanding the current Woolloongabba Priority Development Area (PDA) to encompass more of Woolloongabba and the Stanley Street precinct to South Bank. 

These works will provide a walkable connection to South Bank and Brisbane CBD via Brisbane City Council’s new green bridge. 

“The 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games will change Brisbane the way Expo 88 did. It’s fitting that we will extend the much-loved South Bank precinct to the Gabba and back to the City via the Gardens. 

“Expanding the existing PDA will see a more integrated and coordinated planning approach for the whole suburb,” Deputy Premier Steven Miles said. 

The Queensland Government will be funding the $2.7 billion redevelopment of the Gabba Stadium. 

Woolloongabba PDA revitalisation map (source: Queensland Government)

Further to the Woolloongabba revitalisation and Gabba redevelopment, the Australian Government will commit $2.5 billion for the development of Brisbane Arena.  

The Brisbane Arena is proposed to be built within the Roma Street precinct, which will provide easy access to the new Cross River Rail Brisbane Underground as well as existing train and bus services. 

Once completed, Brisbane Arena will have a capacity of 17,000 seats. This new indoor entertainment venue will host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Swimming and Water Polo events. 

Construction on Brisbane Arena is expected to begin in 2027 and be completed by 2030. 

“The 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be the largest event that’s ever been held in Queensland. 

“The Australian Government has worked cooperatively with the Palaszczuk Government to secure infrastructure projects that will have a long-term and transformational impact on Queensland as we count down to 2032. 

“My Government is ensuring that every dollar that is invested has lasting benefits, not just for Brisbane but for all Queenslanders and all Australians,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. 

Meanwhile, both the Queensland and Australian Governments will be co-funding (on a 50:50 basis) 16 new or upgraded venues – valued at almost $1.87 billion. 

Nine existing venues are set to be upgraded, including: 

• Wyaralong Flatwater Centre and Precinct – Rowing 
• Sunshine Coast Stadium – Football 
• Brisbane Aquatic Centre and Precinct – Aquatics (including diving, artistic swimming and water polo preliminaries) 
• Barlow Park in Cairns – Football 
• Toowoomba Sports Ground – Football 
• Brisbane International Shooting Centre – Shooting 
• Sunshine Coast Mountain Bike Centre – Mountain Biking 
• Anna Meares Velodrome and BMX Track – Track, BMX Racing 
• Queensland Tennis Centre – Tennis 

Five new venues will also be constructed, including: 

• Breakfast Creek (Brisbane) Indoor Sports Centre – Basketball and Wheelchair Basketball 
• Chandler Indoor Sports Centre – Gymnastics and Wheelchair Basketball 
• Sunshine Coast Indoor Sports Centre – Basketball 
• Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre – Boxing 
• Redlands Whitewater Centre – Canoe 

Other venues will also be delivered such as a temporary International Broadcasting Centre and Logan Indoor Sports Centre for a potential training or competition venue. In addition, minor upgrades will be carried out to existing competition and training venues. 

“Brisbane 2032 will be another opportunity to show what Australia can do, but more than that, it will provide a lasting benefit for Australia. 

“Better infrastructure, and building in a lower emissions environment, will not only mean the best for the athletes of the world, but that communities will have great spaces and places to use into the future. 

“I look forward to working cooperatively with Queensland on these important projects,” Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said. 

Source: Queensland Government – Media Releases (1, 2); Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government