First Nations group launches bid to protect site from Olympic stadium plan

SBS Australia

2 days ago

An Indigenous group has launched an application to stop controversial plans to develop a park with cultural significance as the 2032 Olympic centrepiece.
The group wants the Commonwealth to step in and save inner Brisbane's Victoria Park also known as Barrambin, which is set to become the 2032 games hub, hosting a $3.7 billion, 63,000-seat main stadium.
The Yagara Magandjin Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) has lodged an application with the federal government to protect the park, warning the 2032 plans will cause "long-term injury" to a site of cultural significance.
The main stadium is set to be built at a park that contains stories, archaeological evidence, possible ancestral remains and ancient trees, the corporation's Uncle Steven said.
Yagara Elder, Uncle Steven, said halting the construction was about protecting cultural heritage for future generations. Source: AAP / Uncle Steven He also believes there's potential for further Aboriginal heritage research at the park, but fears that won't happen if it's bulldozed for the Olympics. "Once it's lost, it's gone forever," the Yagara Elder told AAP. "This is about trying to protect the cultural heritage for future generations, for our First Nations children, for non-First Nations children - it's the history of Queensland." Queensland's Liberal National government unveiled its blueprint in March, more than 1300 days after Brisbane was named the Olympics host. It also fast-tracked legislation to override 15 environmental and heritage acts to speed up the 2032 build.
This ensured the government could bypass existing laws to construct the main stadium at Victoria Park, despite half of it being state heritage-listed.
This is despite election promises last year to not build new stadiums, and specifically not to do so at Victoria Park. "The state government has gone to a lot of trouble to take away any democratic rights that we had to be consulted, or to make submissions about the proposals, so we've gone to the federal legislation," Save Victoria Park's Sue Bremner told AAP. Save Victoria Park has backed the corporation lodging an application under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act. If successful, the federal government could declare the long-term protection of the park and halt any development. But the legal process may take years, sparking fears among activists that the park may be bulldozed before a decision is made.
Ms Bremner warned the group is willing to look at alternative emergency action to halt shovels in the ground in support of the corporation.
Save Victoria Park warned of potential emergency action to stop construction. Source: AAP / Jono Searle Uncle Steven said the application was not about stopping development for the 2032 Games at other locations but instead about protecting Victoria Park's values and history. "We don't want to hold progress up. We don't want to stop people from enjoying the facilities that may come with 2032," he said. "But just stop a moment and have a look at what's already been destroyed and impacted in southeast Queensland, and have a little bit of thoughtfulness towards it and work out something more appropriate." A state government spokesperson defended the 2032 venue plan, claiming recent legislation would still recognise Aboriginal heritage matters. "The Crisafulli government's new laws underpin the delivery of Games infrastructure on time, on budget, and with a clear legacy for communities beyond 2032," the spokesperson said. "The new laws provide a bespoke process that recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage matters, incorporating engagement and consultation with relevant parties and preparation of a cultural heritage management plan." A damning report last week revealed the Games blueprint may not be completed in time due to a productivity drop.
But Treasurer David Janetzki said the government was up to the 2032 challenge.
In a statement, YMAC spokesperson Yagarabul Elder Gaja Kerry Charlton said the group were shocked by the government's back-flip but they would do everything to protect the site. "For we Goori people, Barrambin is living Country, possessing sacred, ancient and significant relationships within our cultural heritage systems,' said Ms Charlton. "We know this is a place of great significance and history, not only for Yagara people, but for other First Nations and non-Aboriginal people as well. 'It was a complete shock when the Premier came out with his stadium plans. He said the park would be protected from stadiums; I thought the park was safe. Now the government wants to destroy it. We are very concerned there are ancient trees, artefacts and very important eco-systems existing there. There may be ancestral remains.
'We stand resolute in our responsibility to protect it.'