100-Day Review of Brisbane Olympics Plan and Infrastructure

[sebastien1214]

I admit that I haven't followed what's happening in Brisbane at all (sorry, maybe I'm the only one, but the untimely spam of 1-2 messages per day that look like Wikipedia articles discourages me a bit from reading the topics); but 300 people for a demonstration seems a little small to me, indeed. I mean, it's quite easy to gather, you just have to ask people already active in pro-environmental movements, residents' groups, etc., and you can easily gather hundreds of people for a first mobilization. (but, ahem, maybe these are less developed things in Australia?)

However, I would refrain from making any judgment on these mobilizations. What counts is never the first mobilization, it's only what happens afterwards. If, for example, this same group meets every Friday, if this core of 300 people continues to mobilize for weeks, then it will already be much more significant because it means that there are people here who are sufficiently motivated against this project to do as much as possible to fight against the project, and potentially move on to other stages of mobilization (such as occupying the land with camps), and then this "small number" of 300 people can really have an impact. (I have years of experience in all kinds of mobilizations and protests, I know what I'm talking about)

[AustralianFan]

 

4 hours ago, AustralianFan said:

Those against a new Gabba Stadium on the current site have every right to protest, and some did protest against a new Gabba Stadium.  Likewise, those supporting a new Gabba Stadium have every right to support it, including myself.

History shows that the new Gabba Stadium led to Olympic Bid Premier Palasczcuk being toppled and new Premier Miles dropping the Gabba Stadium after his own Graham Quirk Review recommended Victoria Park as the site of the new Stadium.

With new norm pressure coming from John Coates in favour of using existing stadiums and so the smaller, redeveloped 40,000 capacity QSAC Stadium was then announced as the Games Track and Field by then Premier Miles.

History also shows that Premier Miles’ QSAC plan was heavily ridiculed and his Queensland Government was then duly heavily defeated at the recent state election by new Premier Crisafulli who immediately initiated his 100-Day Review of the Brisbane Olympic Plan and Infrastructure.  During the election, Premier Crisafulli actively campaigned on “No New Stadiums” and “QSAC is not an option”.

A list of several different Stadium ideas and locations then flowed from various architects including:

• Arcadis plan at Victoria Park,
• Design Alliance at Northshore Hamilton by the river,
• Gabba Rebuild
• Gabba West Stadium - which I also like
• Doomben Racecourse,
• Mayne Railway Yards,
• Albion stadium option - this may also be possibly be included in the 100-Day Review since it was the stadium location in early bid documents,  and
• Carrara Stadium for Track and Field - the IOC Future Host Commission commented in their initial Feasibility Report to “consider using Carrara Syadium”. for Track and Field.

Stadium and Warm-up Track only at Victoria Park

With the new Gabba Stadium dropped like a hot potato by both sides of politcs, and from all the stadium design and locations which have flowed since, I personally support a new Olympic Stadium and a temporary warm-up track only at Victoria Park.  I do not support the full Arcadis plan which includes extra venues such as an unnecessary national Aquatics Centre and the Brisbane Arena which should be left at Roma Street Parklands.  I am on the record saying exactly this.

Those against a new Victoria Park Stadium on the current site have every right to protest, and some did protest against a new Victoria Park Stadium, as is their right.

As far as the small protest goes at Victoria Park, while those who turned up they were able to spell out 2 letters “No” and while yes it was visually striking, it still was only 300 and would not even fill the first row of seats at a new Stadium.  History shows a small protest did not stop the Sydney 2000 Olympic Stadium being constructed and which successfully preserved the habitats of the green and gold bell frog.

In the end, we’ll all know will tell after 8 March whether this protest will grow or be enough to sway GIICA’s or the Government.   We will know what concrete actions the Queensland Government will take and which of the GIICA 100-Day Review recommendations Premier Crusafulli will actively support and get on with in building.

Will the Gabba rise again like a phoenix?  I doubt it,  … but who knows with politicians?

After the Games, I support the demolition of the Gabba and additional green space created in it’s place.  Until post-games demolition, the Gabba will be a useful to maintain as an AFL/Cricket home and during the Games as a handy central Olympic T20 Cricket venue.

Former Premier Palausczcuk recently said to the media that a decision to build a stadium at Victoria Park has already been made by the new Government.  We don’t have long to wait to see if this is true.

 

 

2 hours ago, Sir Rols said:

Three hundred protesters against a proposal that is even yet-to-be adopted is significant. Especially when similar proposals had already been vetoed over the central concern - off of green space. To be dismissive of them and their concerns is quite arrogant. And on the sign-off that “they would even fill the front row of seats at the new stadium” is almost bullying.

Literally no-one is riding roughshod over democracy.  No-one.

Everyone has the right to protest against the Olympic Stadium in Victoria Park and literally no-one is stopping them. No-one.

Likewise, everyone including myself has the right to support the Olympic Stadium and warm-up track only being built in Victoria Park development while saving and promoting the remaining green space at Victoria Park and creating more green space at thr Gabba site once it is demolished.

“Almost bullying ? (cough)  Seriously @Sir Rols where and why on earth did you dream that one up?

Only 300 protestors turning up to protest against the Olympic Stadium in Victoria Park is what it is.  To give some context for both sides of this, the small number of protestors of 300 would not fill all the seats around the first row of the very stadium they’re protesting against.

That’s the reality of who turned up that day for the ‘no’ photo -  only 0.015% of the population of greater Brisbane.   That’s not bullying, that’s just a small protest, that’s it …. and that’s on them.

In the last protest against an Olympic Stadium in the 1990’s, small protests did not stop the Sydney Olympics nor Stadium Australia being constructed for the 2000 Games. Will the protest against a Victoria Park Stadium succeed? Maybe yes, maybe not. It’s up to whoever turns up on the day,  ….  and no-one is denying their right to protest nor stopping them.   In the end, we’ll all know after 8 March whether this week’s small Victoria Park protest, or any subsequent protests will be enough to sway GIICA’s or the Government as is.  If the Government decides after 8 March, not to go for a Victoria Park Stadium, the small protest might have succeeded. But if the Queensland Government does indeed end up supporting a Stadium at Victoria Park, then we’ll see how that plays out … but I’m betting on the Government just getting on with it once it’s decision is made with the Olympic clock ticking down.

[Sir Rols]

1 hour ago, AustralianFan said:

Almost bullying ? (cough)  Seriously @Sir Rols where and why on earth did you dream that one up?

Only 300 protestors turning up to protest against the Olympic Stadium in Victoria Park is what it is.  To give some context for both sides of this, the small number of protestors of 300 would not fill all the seats around the first row of the very stadium they’re protesting against.

That’s the reality of who turned up that day for the ‘no’ photo -  only 0.015% of the population of greater Brisbane.   That’s not bullying, that’s just a small protest, that’s it …. and that’s on them.

It’s totally belittling of valid concerns that some people have had to the merest (at the moment) hint that a certain plan may be considered. And surely the best way to address such concerns is not to belittle them and sneeringly dismiss them as irrelevant because the stadium crowds will make them look puny. It’s to consider their objections and see if there’s any way to work with them and around them. If they do choose Victoria Park they have some plan, for example, to counter balance the green space lost with more being made available elsewhere.

Numbers doesn’t make right. Otherwise we could dismiss indigenous concerns in our country with “well, they’re only 3.4 per cent of the population so they don’t matter”. And if there are valid grievances, numbers have a tendency to swell.

 

Edited February 4 by Sir Rols

[AustralianFan]

5 minutes ago, Sir Rols said:

It’s totally belittling of valid concerns that some people have had to the merest (at the moment) hint that a certain plan may be considered. And surely the best way to address such concerns is not to belittle them and sneeringly dismiss them as irrelevant because the stadium crowds will make them look puny.

 

If only 300 turned up for the protest, that’s on those who organised the protest or those who didn’t bother to turn up. 

I didn’t belittle their concerns, they belittled themselves by turning up in small numbers @ 0.015% of greater Brisbane’s population.

How is that saying, ‘you’re only as good as your last protest’ ?

My gut feeling is that the ‘no’ protest will grow in numbers if the Queensland Govt ends up choosing the Victoria Park Stadium option.  Whether that inevitable growth in protestors will be enough deter the Government, only time will tell.

 

 

[Sir Rols]

12 minutes ago, AustralianFan said:

I didn’t belittle their concerns, they belittled themselves by turning up in small numbers @ 0.015% of greater Brisbane’s population.

No, YOU turned it into a numbers game and made a disparaging remark comparing them to the front row of the stadium. I’m not the only one who described that response as sneering.

Instead of playing the numbers game, why don’t you address the topic and explain how the needs of the stadium would, ahem, Trump the need for green space in a city not exactly bursting with it?

Edited February 4 by Sir Rols

[AustralianFan]

8 minutes ago, Sir Rols said:

You turned it into a numbers game and made a disparaging remark comparing them to the front row of the stadium.

The protest organisers got their numbers wrong with only 0.015% or 300 turning up.

Yes, a paltry 300 would not take up all the seats in the front row of the very stadium they’re protesting against.  Maybe next time they’ll do better?

@sebastien1214 also said, 300 is indeed a small protest.

Perhaps the Victoria Park protestors should talk to the protest organisers who campaigned against the Gabba Rebuild because that protest seens to have worked ….  

… or has it?

[Sir Rols]

I’ll leave you to your calculator…

[sebastien1214]

2 minutes ago, AustralianFan said:

 

@sebastien1214 also said, 300 is indeed a small protest.

And I also said that what counts is never the first manifestation but what follows... ; it is therefore very premature and useless to draw any conclusion or fixed opinion as you do.

[AustralianFan]

1 minute ago, sebastien1214 said:

And I also said that what counts is never the first manifestation but what follows... ; it is therefore very premature and useless to draw any conclusion or fixed opinion as you do.

And I also  have posted that my gut feeling is that the ‘no’ protest will grow in numbers if the Queensland Govt ends up choosing the Victoria Park Stadium option after 8 March.  Whether that inevitable growth in protestors will be enough deter the Government from choosing Victoria Park as the site for the Olympic Stadium, we’ll soon find out.

 

[Sir Rols]

Yeah, but @sebastien1214 is French. Protest is their national sport 

[sebastien1214]

2 minutes ago, Sir Rols said:

Yeah, but @sebastien1214 is French. Protest is their national sport 

It’s more than that, it’s an way of life

[AustralianFan]

4 minutes ago, sebastien1214 said:

It’s more than that, it’s an way of life

Perhaps the Victoria Park protestors should engage your services as protest consultant and how to mobilise the masses as they have done a woeful job so far.

 

[sebastien1214]

6 minutes ago, AustralianFan said:

Perhaps the Victoria Park protestors should engage your services as protest consultant and how to mobilise the masses as they have done a woeful job so far.

 

If these 300 protesters regularly renew their actions and end up making a permanent occupation of the land (this is in any case what I would do in their situation if I were opposed to the project - look at the "Zone to Defend" English Wikipedia page), it means that their work was good from the beginning. We only judge at the end of the show, not at the beginning of the first act.

[AustralianFan]

10 minutes ago, AustralianFan said:

Perhaps the Victoria Park protestors should engage your services as protest consultant and how to mobilise the masses as they have done a woeful job so far.

 

 

3 minutes ago, sebastien1214 said:

If these 300 protesters regularly renew their actions and end up making a permanent occupation of the land (this is in any case what I would do in their situation if I were opposed to the project - look at the "Zone to Defend" English Wikipedia page), it means that their work was good from the beginning. We only judge at the end of the show, not at the beginning of the first act.

Well not a good first act for them, no matter how it’s packaged.  Time will tell if the Victoria Park Stadium protestors are successful or not at the end of the day.

[Victorian]

What the hell have I just walked into

[Sir Rols]

5 minutes ago, Victorian said:

What the hell have I just walked into

The first interesting discourse and debate on this thread for months.

[sebastien1214]

10 minutes ago, Victorian said:

What the hell have I just walked into

Well it's true that as the debates in the Brisbane 2032 forum seem to be rare, it can be a shock the first time we are confronted with it

[Brisbane Boy]

On 1/30/2025 at 6:53 AM, AustralianFan said:

Cairns Regional Council Submission to 100-Day Review

Barlow Park - Olympic Football
With Barlow Park slated to host Olympic Football Preliminaries, a commitment for these upgrades for completion by 2028:

• new western grandstand to increase permanent seating capacity to 3,500
• additional 1,500 retractable seats for use over the existing athletics track
• upgraded food and beverage facilities, function and corporate facilities and enhanced accessibility
• significant improvements to player and spectator amenities
• Council is also calling for support in the establishment of high-performance facilities at West Barlow Park (directly adjacent to Barlow Park), which would enhance the appeal of Cairns for visiting international teams ahead of the Olympics
• upgrades to Endeavour Park to enable the venue’s utilisation as an Olympic training facility, especially for visiting football teams.

                                                        Barlow Park, Cairns

 

Cazalys Stadium - Olympic T20 Cricket 

Should cricket be confirmed as an Olympic sport for the 2032 Games, Cazalys Stadium to be used as a host venue given the facility’s proven track record hosting international cricket and other major events.

                                                       Cazalys Stadium, Cairns    

Training Camps

• Cairns to be prioritised as a host city for pre- and post-Games training camps and Paralympic Sport as part of the 2032 Games.
• Where venue upgrades to existing facilities located in Southeast Queensland require temporary relocations, these events should be hosted in centres such as Cairns as a further demonstration of infrastructure investments delivering benefits for rural and regional Queensland.

 

Cairns Regional Council Submission

Cazalys AFL club is a big sporting Social Club one of the biggest in Queensland.

They could/should use this site over Barlow Park.

Your T20 cricket idea has some merit as the lighting is up to good standard too if needed.

But a long way from Brisbane especially if only 6-10 teams are involved.

Going on the image. I like they have used the carpark and possibly the grandstand for solar panels.

The grandstand is an old Gabba one.

It was shipped 1700 km to Cairns by about 20 semis and put together again on site.

With the current floods in North Queensland i hope these two venues escaped any damage

 

[AustralianFan]

23 minutes ago, Brisbane Boy said:

Cazalys AFL club is a big sporting Social Club one of the biggest in Queensland.

They could/should use this site over Barlow Park.

Your T20 cricket idea has some merit as the lighting is up to good standard too if needed.

But a long way from Brisbane especially if only 6-10 teams are involved.

Going on the image. I like they have used the carpark and possibly the grandstand for solar panels.

The grandstand is an old Gabba one.

It was shipped 1700 km to Cairns by about 20 semis and put together again on site.

With the current floods in North Queensland i hope these two venues escaped any damage

 

Yes you make a good point about the reduced numbers of Olympic T20 Cricket teams playing that they won’t need many venues at all for the prelims.

But if organisers decide to send Cricket to Cairns, Cazalys Stadium would be ideal given that Barlow Park is being used for Football preliminaries.

Interesting knowledge too, and thankyou for sharing, re a former Gabba grandstand now residing happily in Cairns at Cazalys Stadium.

 

[Brisbane Boy]

Regarding the "save Victoria Park " protesters. It could grow or fizzle out depending on what the Government decides.

The bigger issue for me is the consultation process with first nations people and to a lesser degree the few protected historical sites on the park. This should already have taken place, but politicians regularly don't do the obvious.

I am assuming this has already been done by the Lord Mayor when the consultation process happened on the Master Plan for Victoria Park.

I don't really think this group will gain much additional support if only a stadium is recommended. Likely to lose about 5-7% net park space in that case, with green space added over the ICB and rail line. However, if they decide on a Brisbane Bold type concept of 3 large structures, then that's a different situation. 

Recently the park lost about 5% to a new Pump Track on a hilly side of the park fronting Herston Road. I don't recall any "save Victoria park" protests regarding this Pump Track project which took about 15 months to construct. Admittingly it is low key compared to a stadium, but they still ripped up all the nice grass and bulldozed a large chunk of the area to make it suitable.

The thing is the park is full of hilly sections and that is one reason it is not well used, especially in the spring/summer months. That's except from the commercial interest on the highest point of the park being a restaurant, function rooms, golf driving range, 18-hole golf Putt Putt and 2 large carparks.

I am unable to post images on this forum site even though i have done so before. I tried saved images elsewhere but those also had a url connection and did not work. So, a link will have to suffice, but not very helpful in comparing to the overall park size the Pump Track area occupies along with other things at Victoria Park.

Victoria Park / Barrambin - Urban Pump Track - Brisbane Kids

The "save Victoria Park" people should just get behind a stadium that could be built and integrated into the BCC Master Plan for Victoria Park. It would be a fantastic area not only for Brisbane residence but tourist alike. More importantly it will actually get used.

The master plan (link below) will go ahead with joint council/federal funding but in stages and be more expensive in the long run. 

Victoria Park A4 Portrait V1

Below YouTube clip to skip reading the long masterplan link above.

You will note nothing planned for the golf driving range large section of the park.

 

Victoria Park has been a golf course for well over 100 years and only golfers got the benefit of the park up until 2019.

There is still a large golf driving range on the site with many years left on the lease. The lease won't be renewed.

So, the public did not have free access to the site for 1.5 lifetimes.

 

 

 

[AustralianFan]

16 hours ago, Brisbane Boy said:

Regarding the "save Victoria Park " protesters. It could grow or fizzle out depending on what the Government decides.

The bigger issue for me is the consultation process with first nations people and to a lesser degree the few protected historical sites on the park. This should already have taken place, but politicians regularly don't do the obvious.

I am assuming this has already been done by the Lord Mayor when the consultation process happened on the Master Plan for Victoria Park.

I don't really think this group will gain much additional support if only a stadium is recommended. Likely to lose about 5-7% net park space in that case, with green space added over the ICB and rail line. However, if they decide on a Brisbane Bold type concept of 3 large structures, then that's a different situation. 

Recently the park lost about 5% to a new Pump Track on a hilly side of the park fronting Herston Road. I don't recall any "save Victoria park" protests regarding this Pump Track project which took about 15 months to construct. Admittingly it is low key compared to a stadium, but they still ripped up all the nice grass and bulldozed a large chunk of the area to make it suitable.

The thing is the park is full of hilly sections and that is one reason it is not well used, especially in the spring/summer months. That's except from the commercial interest on the highest point of the park being a restaurant, function rooms, golf driving range, 18-hole golf Putt Putt and 2 large carparks.

I am unable to post images on this forum site even though i have done so before. I tried saved images elsewhere but those also had a url connection and did not work. So, a link will have to suffice, but not very helpful in comparing to the overall park size the Pump Track area occupies along with other things at Victoria Park.

Victoria Park / Barrambin - Urban Pump Track - Brisbane Kids

The "save Victoria Park" people should just get behind a stadium that could be built and integrated into the BCC Master Plan for Victoria Park. It would be a fantastic area not only for Brisbane residence but tourist alike. More importantly it will actually get used.

The master plan (link below) will go ahead with joint council/federal funding but in stages and be more expensive in the long run. 

Victoria Park A4 Portrait V1

Below YouTube clip to skip reading the long masterplan link above.

You will note nothing planned for the golf driving range large section of the park.

 

Victoria Park has been a golf course for well over 100 years and only golfers got the benefit of the park up until 2019.

There is still a large golf driving range on the site with many years left on the lease. The lease won't be renewed.

So, the public did not have free access to the site for 1.5 lifetimes.

Excellent post @Brisbane Boy.  Fully agree.

Incidentally, I use  https://imgur.com  for posting images here and found it’s reliable. 

[Victorian]

Carrara Sports Precinct 20 year masterplan got released today. I would be very surprised if Gold Coast City Council didn't include this in their 100 day review submission

Carrara Sports Precinct to boast new stadium and future hotels along with pedestrian bridges

The Gold Coast’s sports base at Carrara is to become a “world class sporting precinct” with future upgrades to include a new outdoor stadium, a potential hotel and pedestrian bridges. Take a sneak peek at what’s planned.

The Gold Coast’s sports base at Carrara is to become a “world class sporting precinct” with future upgrades to include a new outdoor stadium, a potential hotel and pedestrian bridges.

A 20-year masterplan, including stunning graphics, was ticked off by City councillors at a closed session of the lifestyle committee at the Evandale Chambers on Thursday.

The 20-year plan will upgrade the major work in the lead-up before the 2018 Commonwealth Games and put the City in a strategic position to host more sports at the 2032 Olympics.

Exclusive graphics and a report on Carrara obtained by the Bulletin show:

* Additional indoor and outdoor courts along with playing fields.

* More high performance training, administration and health facilities.

* Opportunities for accommodation on the site including hotels by the lake.

* Improved transport with pedestrian bridges crossing the Nerang River and Nerang-Broadbeach Road.

* A new outdoor stadium on the second field next to the main stadium

* Removal of the old basketball stadium to make way for new facilities.

New designs as part of a master plan for the Gold Coast Sports Precinct at Carrara.

Mayor Tom Tate described the opportunities for growth at the Precinct as “very exciting” as it positioned the City for the future Olympics. A submission by council to an Olympic venue review says it can save organisers $5 billion by providing sites here rather than in Brisbane.

“We already have a fantastic anchor tenant in the Gold Coast Suns and the versatility of the venue for indoor sports like volleyball and basketball and major concerts, as we have seen with Queen, Harry Styles, McCartney, Pink, Pearl Jam it is a great asset for the city,” he said.

“Unlike a lot of the major venues in Brisbane, Carrara does not have the same land capacity constraints so we can look at a second high quality outdoor oval on the precinct for AFLW, VFL and men’s and women’s cricket.

“Clearly we need to address the traffic and transport issues to and from the site and an overhead bridge would support better ingress and egress options for pedestrians and public transport.

Pedestrian bridges are part of the new designs in a master plan for the Gold Coast Sports Precinct at Carrara.

“Whilst the Nerang Station is a comfortable walk for some, we need to get the east west electric buses happening to connect light rail at Broadbeach to the heavy rail and our western population centres, via Carrara Sports Precinct.”

Mr Tate said he had early discussions with the Government about transport upgrades.

The Mayor had also alerted the Olympics 100 Day Review Authority about the upgrades as part of Council’s recent submission.

Lifestyle committee chair Glenn Tozer, who presented the plans to his committee, said talks would continue with the State Government which owned land in the precinct.

He said Carrara would provide a sporting space for everyone, “whether you’re a

weekend warrior, a rising star, elite athlete, or just love being part of the action”.

“The Concept Master Plan has been shaped through consultation with key users and stakeholders to balance the needs of community sports and high-performance athletes,” he said.

“We are soon to commence the next crucial step – broader community consultation. We want to hear from local clubs, families and everyday users to ensure the precinct reflects what matters most to you.

“Next, we’ll develop a detailed business case with staged plans to bring this vision to life. We’re committed to working closely with the State Government, which manages the People First Stadium, to make sure the precinct grows with the city’s needs.”

[Victorian]

Add this to the list of proposals

 

GAMES MODE

POST GAMES

 

https://www.thestadiumbusiness.com/2025/02/05/kirk-sets-out-gabba-west-stadium-proposal/

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/timber-stadium-proposed-for-new-relocated-gabba-20250205-p5l9us.html

[Gonzo]

Must admit I quite like this "Gabba West" proposal

Won't happen though as need to demolish a whole city block with houses, church and building over roads and thus cost a shitload

[Tejas57]

On 2/7/2025 at 11:21 AM, Gonzo said:

Must admit I quite like this "Gabba West" proposal

it will be Vic Park., the whole point of the 100-day review is so when the media press crestafuli on the broken "no new stadiums" promise from prior to the election he can point to the "independent review" (there's an old maxim in politics.. never commission a review you don't already know the result of) and say "they recommended it.. blame them"