It takes a village: Olympic work fast-tracked to house Queenslanders
The Queensland government will fast-track the construction of Olympic athletes’ villages to provide short- and medium-term accommodation before the 2032 Games take place.
In what she called a “pre-legacy” of the Games, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told a state budget estimates hearing on Tuesday the construction of athletes’ villages in Brisbane, Maroochydore and the Gold Coast would be accelerated.
An artist’s impression of the proposed athletes’ village for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games at Hamilton Northshore.
“Next week I will be convening the housing cabinet subcommittee and speaking to prospective developers to see how we can bring more of those villages online sooner for short-term rental accommodation,” she said.
While no firm timeframe was offered, Palaszczuk said the work would be done “very quickly”.
“This is the right thing to do because it is not just about building the infrastructure, it is about the legacy,” she said.
“This will be a pre-legacy of the Games, to have these athletes’ villages built well ahead of the Games.
“We have seen what happened with the Commonwealth Games, when we had that on the Gold Coast. The athletes’ village is now home to hundreds of people – as I drove past there the other day, I could see that people are living in those apartments.”
Palaszczuk, who also serves as Olympic and Paralympic Minister, was also grilled about the projected $1.7 billion blow-out of the Gabba, which would serve as the main Olympic stadium.
In February, it was revealed the cost of demolishing and rebuilding the cricket and AFL stadium, initially estimated at $1 billion, would be in the region of $2.7 billion.
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli asked the Premier what changed from the project’s original scope.
Palaszczuk took the opportunity to talk up the project.
“Anyone can have a look at how well the FIFA [Women’s] World Cup is going at the moment and how all of Australia is getting behind the Matildas, and it was a great win last night,” she said.
“When all of this is completed, we will be able to have multiple sporting and entertainment events. We have already seen how just an NRL game between the Dolphins and the Broncos can essentially pack out Suncorp Stadium.
“These precincts and the Gabba will benefit generations to come.”
She then moved on to the substance of the question.
“As we know, there has been a massive surge in construction costs, which has been felt right across the world,” Palaszczuk said.
Crisafulli interjected with a dry observation: “A 170 per cent escalation.”
Palaszczuk said the scale of the project had subsequently become more apparent.
“The work undertaken over the past year has provided more detail on what is required from a design and engineering perspective, and that is reflected in the cost,” she said.
Palaszczuk said the hefty price would deliver more than just the stadium – it would include urban renewal, of the type experienced in London after the 2012 Games.
“It is the redevelopment of that whole precinct which will dramatically change that area,” she said.
“The way in which people walk and commute with the Cross River Rail linking in directly with the Gabba, access for people with a disability, social and affordable housing, more connectivity, walkability, to be able to walk and cycle from the venues as well.”
Responding to a question from South Brisbane Greens MP Amy MacMahon, Palaszczuk said the Gabba project validation report, which would outline design specifications, would be released “in due course”.