Brisbane Olympics infrastructure body urges LNP to fast-track controversial venues with special laws
The infrastructure authority for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games is pushing the Queensland government to suspend normal procurement rules and consider special planning laws to fast-track the approval and construction of controversial new venues.
The Queensland government announced its venues plan for the Olympics on Tuesday, including plans to build a new stadium in the heritage-listed Victoria Park, Brisbane's largest inner-city parkland.
The plan – the third version in four years since Brisbane was awarded the games in 2021 – was recommended after a 100-day review by the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority.
It was sold to the public on Tuesday as a 'final' plan that required urgency.
'The time has come to just get on with it,' the premier, David Crisafulli, has said.
There has been significant public opposition to plans to develop Victoria Park, including from community leaders and even the former LNP premier Campbell Newman.
The group Save Victoria Park says it has briefed barristers and could launch a legal challenge to protect the site.
The 100-day review report noted community concerns and First Nations cultural heritage considerations that could create issues at Victoria Park. It recommended the stadium proceed and argued that 'special legislation' would likely be required to approve Olympics venues.
'It is essential that infrastructure is delivered on time for the hosting of a successful Games and to comply with the Olympic host contract,' the review said.
'This imperative is likely to necessitate GIICA being able to use streamlined development processes where required.
'This is to ensure that planning and other approval requirements are obtained in a timely and efficient manner, as is typically expected of major projects of state significance.
'It also may be necessary in the future to consider amendments to the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games Arrangements Act (or other special legislation) to ensure the timely delivery of these major projects.'
Sue Bremner, the spokesperson for Save Victoria Park, said the push to build a stadium at the site had been 'like the return of the white shoe brigade' – a term used in the 1980s to describe property developers who exerted influence during the Bjelke-Petersen government.
'It's a bold land grab of heritage land,' Bremner said.
Asked on Tuesday if the state government would introduce special planning legislation to head off a lawsuit, Crisafulli told reporters: 'I am very, very confident we can get this done.'
The 100-day review also suggested that Queensland government processes for delivering major projects, and the state's standard procurement rules, would need to be set aside on a case-by-case basis.
'As projects move through the stages of the procurement process it is critical that every effort is made to fast-track the delivery of the infrastructure and venues,' the review said.
'The significant delays caused by years of uncertainty have seen substantial cost escalation due to the current market conditions and now time constraints. Any further delay will only see costs continue to escalate, whilst further exacerbating program risks.
'[Queensland's] traditional contracting model does not enable GIICA the capacity to address current market constraints, complexity, or time sensitivities of the quantum of infrastructure to be delivered.
'GIICA needs the flexibility to adopt alternative models and innovative procurement approaches where required to manage on time and on budget delivery and will work with the Queensland government on exemptions on a case-by-case basis.'
The review said 'critical actions' – including changing planning and procurement processes – for the Olympics 'underpinned by a steadfast commitment to ethical processes'.
Crisafulli has vowed that the entire budget for Olympics venues – including commonwealth and private money – would be within its original $7.1bn funding commitment, regardless of cost increase.
Transport and 'associated precinct' costs are not included and will cost 'many billions of dollars', the premier said.
– With reporting by Andrew Messenger
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