Indigenous group in legal bid to stop Olympic park plan

Perth Now

2 days ago

A site of Indigenous significance at Brisbane's Victoria Park is at risk, an Aboriginal group says. (HANDOUT/Save Victoria Park)
A site of Indigenous significance at Brisbane's Victoria Park is at risk, an Aboriginal group says. (HANDOUT/Save Victoria Park) Credit: AAP
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, which is set to become the 2032 games hub, hosting a $3.7 billion, 63,000-seat main stadium.
The Yagara Magandjin Aboriginal Corporation 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 Indigenous 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.
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."
The clock is ticking to construct the 2032 venues after Queensland's Liberal National government finally 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.
"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.
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.