New infrastructure boss keen to get digging at Victoria Park
Simon Crooks, who previously headed the Queen's Wharf construction for Destination Brisbane, was announced as the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority's new chief executive on Wednesday, with a starting date of August 1.
And the former project manager was keen to get shovels in the ground as soon as possible.
Crooks said work could start on the Olympic stadium in Victoria Park well before procurement, to accelerate the process once the stadium's location was determined.
Loading
'There's about a 300,000 cubic metre mass fill – that can be done early and done quickly,' he said.
'That allows the time procurement for the main stadium, and if there are things that need to be adjusted, you'll get that done in the detailed excavation.'
Crooks would not put a firm date on when the works would begin.
'I will know once I've got in the seat and had a look at it – but my view is, you try and procure all of these things early and get those risks out of it,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
27 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘Without precedent': Swim star is an absolute freak
Katie Ledecky has blown the world away again. The American on Tuesday night (AEST) won the 22nd world title of her legendary career to close in on Michael Phelps's record. On a dramatic night at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, fellow Olympic champions David Popovici and Aussie Kaylee McKeown also struck gold. Ledecky cruised to a dominant 1500m freestyle gold, touching the wall in 15min 26.44sec, having threatened her own world record of 15:20.48. The masterful win moved Ledecky four short of the retired Phelps's career tally of 26 world gold medals. 'Growing up it was very inspiring to watch world championships, Olympic Games that Michael was in, trying to learn from the very best,' said Ledecky, 28. 'I was always a student of the sport.' Ledecky's win gave the American the sixth world 1500m freestyle title of her career. She is also a nine-time Olympic gold medallist. Second was Simona Quadarella of Italy in 15:31.79 and third Australia's Lani Pallister in 15:41.18. Ledecky is unbeaten in the long-distance event since the age of 13. With Ledecky swimming under world record pace at the 800m mark, Aussie legends Ariarne Titmus and Ian Thorpe were blown away in commentary on Channel 9. When Titmus mentioned Ledecky chasing her own world record, Thorpe responded: 'Don't jinx it. Don't do that'. Swimming commentators around the globe were in awe. Sports Illustrated writer Pat Forde posted on X: 'Do not take her singular greatness for granted. She is without peer and without precedent'. American swimming commentator Kyle Sockwell wrote: 'The greatest freestyler in the history of freestyle'. Sports journalist Christine Brennan posted: 'Remarkable. One of the highlights of my career has been covering every single one of Katie Ledecky's Olympic races throughout her career, from 2012 onward. 'This is a 28-year-old superstar who just loves to train, practice, compete and represent her country. She is one of a kind.' Sport journalist Joey Wllis wrote: 'Is Katie Ledecky one of the greatest athletes ever? Her dominance in the pool is incomprehensibly remarkable'. Sport writer Liz Byrnes wrote: 'Ledecky has never been beaten in the longest race in the pool. Complete & utter domination'. One fan posted: 'Her dominance in this event is unmatched'. Ledecky was the red-hot favourite going into the race, having qualified for the final over 10 seconds faster than nearest challenger Pallister. She also went into the race owning the top 24 1500m freestyle times ever, and set the second-fastest time in history in April behind her own record. Pallister pushed her with a fast early tempo and Ledecky was on world record pace until late in the race. In the end she fell short of the mark but still clocked the fifth-fastest time ever. 'Lani took it out there. I knew she would be out fast and I just wanted to get out fast, but comfortable enough that I could go from there,' said Ledecky. 'I'm happy with the time and happy with the swim.' It is Ledecky's first gold medal of the championships, after picking up a bronze behind Summer McIntosh in the 400m freestyle on Sunday's opening night in Singapore. Ledecky is set to go head-to-head with Canadian phenomenon McIntosh again in the 800m freestyle. Popovici claimed a thrilling 200m freestyle gold — then revealed he had very nearly pulled out. The 20-year-old Romanian reeled in US rival Luke Hobson to take the title in 1:43.53, with Hobson settling for silver (1:43.84) and Japan's 18-year-old Tatsuya Murasa taking bronze (1:44.54). Popovici said afterwards that he had seriously considered withdrawing from the competition before it started, even going as far as looking at flights home. 'It was a mental thing and it had to do with the fear of seeing my real potential,' said Popovici, who reclaimed his world crown from 2022. 'That's very scary. And so I'm really glad I didn't quit.' Australia's McKeown beat a recently dislocated shoulder, nerves and old rival Regan Smith of the United States to win the 100m backstroke gold, narrowly missing the world record. McKeown powered to the wall in a championship record 57.16sec, with Smith having to once more settle for second, just 0.19sec behind. Katharine Berkoff, also of the United States, took bronze. in women's backstroke. 'It's always very nerve-wracking, especially off the back of the Olympics,' said the 24-year-old, who won the 100-200m backstroke double at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics. 'I was probably a bit more nervous than I would like to have been tonight.' McKeown's latest triumph came after hurting her shoulder in the lead-up to Singapore. 'It's been quite irritated but I've got a good medical team and physios to help me get through.' Germany's Anna Elendt won the first world title of her career in the women's 100m breaststroke, coming home in 1:05.19. American Kate Douglass was second in 1:05.27, with China's Tang Qianting third in 1:05.64. South Africa's Pieter Coetze won the men's 100m backstroke in 51.85sec in a surprise, ahead of Italy's Thomas Ceccon (51.90) and France's Yohann Ndoye-Brouard.
West Australian
an hour ago
- West Australian
Aussie superstar Kaylee McKeown wins 100m backstroke gold despite ‘irritated' dislocated shoulder
Kaylee McKeown thought she'd better fight her demons sooner than later. True to form, she won. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Aussie superstar wins gold despite 'irritated' dislocated shoulder. McKeown has kept Australia atop the medal table entering day four of the swimming world championships in Singapore. After initially being reluctant to race the women's 100m backstroke, McKeown won Australia's third gold of the titles, one more than any other nation. 'I just didn't want to keep steering away from fear,' McKeown said after her Tuesday night triumph. 'Because the more that you feel fear, it becomes like a monster. And you have got to chase your demons at some point. 'I thought it was better to start sooner rather than later.' McKeown suffered severe post-Olympic blues after winning double gold in Paris last year, when she was Australia's joint flag bearer at the closing ceremony. Her long-time coach Michael Bohl moved to China; McKeown intially moved training camps to the Gold Coast, then back home to the Sunshine Coast. After Australia's selection trials, she dislocated a shoulder. 'I have got a really flexible stroke and it's my benefit when I swim my backstrokes,' she said. 'But sometimes it can cause me to dislocate my shoulder. 'It's been quite irritated but I have got a good medical team and physiotherapists to help me get through. 'I'm really really proud. It's a little bit emotional.' And, despite a glittering career featuring five Olympic golds, she arrived in Singapore with a point to prove. 'There were a lot of comments of me, saying that I'm scared to lose,' McKeown said. 'But that's not the case at all. If anything, I'm scared to fail myself. 'I have worked really, really hard to get up there and prove to myself that I am a good athlete and swimmer. It doesn't matter if I come first or last.' McKeown now has five career individual gold medals at the worlds. Only Ian Thorpe has more — six. The 24-year-old saluted in a personal best of 57.16 seconds, just 0.03 seconds outside American Regan Smith's world record. 'It's a little bit emotional,' McKeown said. 'I have worked so hard just to get myself into a happy state and it's just what I've been focusing on. 'It goes to show that a happy swimmer is a fast swimmer. 'I have trained hard but I wasn't expecting to make a personal best tonight.' McKeown will chase more medals on Wednesday night as part of Australia's mixed 4x100m medley relay team. Mollie O'Callaghan enters as favourite in a women's 200m freestyle final also featuring Australia's Jamie Perkins - the event's world record holder Ariarne Titmus remains on a post-Olympic break. Australia's Sam Short, two nights after snaring silver in the men's 400m freestyle, races for gold in the 800m freestyle. And Dolphins stalwart Kyle Chalmers commences his individual program in men's 100m freestyle heats and semi-finals, two days after anchoring Australia's win in the men's 4x100m freestyle relay.
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Aussie superstar wins gold despite ‘irritated' dislocated shoulder
Kaylee McKeown thought she'd better fight her demons sooner than later. True to form, she won. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Aussie superstar wins gold despite 'irritated' dislocated shoulder. McKeown has kept Australia atop the medal table entering day four of the swimming world championships in Singapore. After initially being reluctant to race the women's 100m backstroke, McKeown won Australia's third gold of the titles, one more than any other nation. 'I just didn't want to keep steering away from fear,' McKeown said after her Tuesday night triumph. 'Because the more that you feel fear, it becomes like a monster. And you have got to chase your demons at some point. 'I thought it was better to start sooner rather than later.' McKeown suffered severe post-Olympic blues after winning double gold in Paris last year, when she was Australia's joint flag bearer at the closing ceremony. If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. Her long-time coach Michael Bohl moved to China; McKeown intially moved training camps to the Gold Coast, then back home to the Sunshine Coast. After Australia's selection trials, she dislocated a shoulder. 'I have got a really flexible stroke and it's my benefit when I swim my backstrokes,' she said. 'But sometimes it can cause me to dislocate my shoulder. 'It's been quite irritated but I have got a good medical team and physiotherapists to help me get through. 'I'm really really proud. It's a little bit emotional.' And, despite a glittering career featuring five Olympic golds, she arrived in Singapore with a point to prove. 'There were a lot of comments of me, saying that I'm scared to lose,' McKeown said. 'But that's not the case at all. If anything, I'm scared to fail myself. 'I have worked really, really hard to get up there and prove to myself that I am a good athlete and swimmer. It doesn't matter if I come first or last.' McKeown now has five career individual gold medals at the worlds. Only Ian Thorpe has more — six. Kaylee McKeown celebrates after winning gold. Credit: AAP The 24-year-old saluted in a personal best of 57.16 seconds, just 0.03 seconds outside American Regan Smith's world record. 'It's a little bit emotional,' McKeown said. 'I have worked so hard just to get myself into a happy state and it's just what I've been focusing on. 'It goes to show that a happy swimmer is a fast swimmer. 'I have trained hard but I wasn't expecting to make a personal best tonight.' McKeown will chase more medals on Wednesday night as part of Australia's mixed 4x100m medley relay team. Mollie O'Callaghan enters as favourite in a women's 200m freestyle final also featuring Australia's Jamie Perkins - the event's world record holder Ariarne Titmus remains on a post-Olympic break. Australia's Sam Short, two nights after snaring silver in the men's 400m freestyle, races for gold in the 800m freestyle. And Dolphins stalwart Kyle Chalmers commences his individual program in men's 100m freestyle heats and semi-finals, two days after anchoring Australia's win in the men's 4x100m freestyle relay.
