Queensland passes legislation to exempt venues for Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games from major planning laws

Australia Broadcast Center

7 hours ago

Queensland has passed legislation to ensure all venues built for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be exempt from major planning rules, with the government confident a federal funding agreement will be reached "very soon".
The move will exempt Games infrastructure from major planning laws, in a bid to ensure projects are not held up by potential legal challenges.
It means final planning sign-off rests with the state government, rather than local councils.
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said the laws were vital for Games delivery, allowing for development at sites including Brisbane's Victoria Park.
"There'll be shovels being turned across the state."
Andrea Lunt from Save Victoria Park, a group against building a stadium at the site, said the laws would not stop them from protecting the green space.
"We were expecting it, but we're still incredibly disappointed, but we're not deterred, we'll continue to fight this no matter what gets thrown at us," Ms Lunt said.
"The park is too important to lose, it's such a precious natural asset to Brisbane.
"If you're thinking about showcasing Brisbane for the Olympic Games, you'd think we'd protect and enhance such a beautiful natural asset, not cover it up for stadiums."
Queensland Conservation Council director Dave Copeman said the government had ignored hundreds of submissions from the community and key stakeholders.
"We firmly believe that any development, for the Olympics or otherwise, should be rigorously assessed and held to a high standard on First Nations engagement, community benefits and nature protection.
The planning laws also implement changes to the approval processes for renewable energy projects, with the government seeking to ensure regional community interests are prioritised.
Large-scale wind and solar farms will have mandatory public consultation, with developers required to enter into binding community benefit agreements with local councils.
Mr Bleijie said the move would ensure infrastructure goals are achieved.
"This is about making sure that housing is delivered, the roads are upgraded, temporary accommodation for workers is put in place, schools, housing," Mr Bleijie said.
"Whatever the council want in these agreements they can put, it is putting local communities at the forefront of the renewable energy project."
However, Clean Energy Council National spokesperson Chris O'Keefe said the laws may prevent vital investment.
"We agree that communities must benefit, but this legislation imposes up-front processes that will frustrate good projects and could delay real outcomes," he said.
"Renewables investors are already expressing hesitation to continue their projects in Queensland given the time frame uncertainty, which risks stalling the rollout of clean energy to replace retiring coal and leading to higher household energy bills."
The LNP government scrapped its Labor predecessors venues plan for the Games, which included a federally funded indoor arena in the Brisbane CBD.
Instead, the private sector has been engaged to build an arena at Woolloongabba, leading the two jurisdictions to negotiate how the $3.4 billion in Commonwealth funds are used.
Federal Minister for Sport Anika Wells assured that an agreement was imminent.
"We understand people want to see work advance as quickly as possible... these aren't just venues that are relevant to a four-week period in 2032, these are venues people want to get their value out of as quickly as possible."
Queensland Olympics Minister Tim Mander said negotiations had been progressing well.
"I'm very confident that an agreement will be made shortly, and the discussions are very positive and very constructive," Mr Mander said.