The Queensland government spent more than $6 million on its now-scrapped plans to knock down and rebuild the Gabba for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
But the government is insisting the rebuild work will not go to waste and will be used to inform a modest enhancement of the stadium in Brisbane’s inner south.
Premier Steven Miles announced this week his government would not go ahead with the proposed major redevelopment of the Gabba following a review into the Games’ venue plans.
The government has confirmed that up to January 31 this year, it spent $6.4 million on the Gabba rebuild proposal, excluding GST.
The costs are due to the development of a project validation report that explored several Gabba redevelopment options, as well as the scope, costs, and risks of the proposed project.
The government says the report still has “future value” because it identified works needed to address the maintenance and depreciation of the stadium.
It also identified works at the stadium to improve women’s participation and disability access.
Under its initial plans, the government had intended to knock down the Gabba and rebuild it as the main arena for the 2032 Games at a cost of $2.7 billion.
The move would have displaced the adjacent East Brisbane State School.
Miles says he cannot justify ‘expensive new stadium’
Mr Miles announced this week the Gabba would no longer be demolished and rebuilt, and the stadium would instead be given a modest enhancement.
Suncorp Stadium is now expected to play to host the opening and closing ceremonies, while the Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre [QSAC] is set to host the athletics.
“The work already undertaken as part of planning for the Gabba will be used to inform future works on the Gabba,” Mr Miles said in a statement to ABC Radio Brisbane.
“I just can’t justify an expensive new stadium when Queenslanders’ household expenses are so high.”
An independent review commissioned by the government, and led by former Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk, had suggested a new $3.4 billion stadium be built at Victoria Park.
The report argued that a Victoria Park stadium would be “marginally” more expensive than a Gabba rebuild, and said the proposal should proceed to a project validation report as a matter of priority.
The recommendation was rejected by Mr Miles, who said the uncertainty around the final cost for a Victoria Park stadium meant it was “not an option”.
The review described the Gabba as an “ageing asset” that required substantial upgrades, and warned a full rebuild would “not deliver to the full brief of an international standard stadium”.
It also recommended that the QSAC stadium not be used as a venue to host track and field events, and found an upgrade to the stadium did not represent value for money.
Crisafulli commits to review
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli announced on Thursday an LNP government would set up an independent coordination authority for the 2032 Games to review major venues within 100 days.
The authority would be asked to report back with a new key venue plan that used existing facilities, considered road and rail transport, legacy benefits and stay within the present funding commitment.
Mr Crisafulli said he wanted to restore public confidence in the Olympics planning process.
“I want to make a promise to Queenslanders and that is, it is capable and it is possible to fix this mess,” Mr Crisafulli said.
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