Latest news with #RosemaryO'Hagan
Perth Now
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
'Clock is ticking': Olympic venues to skirt state laws
Brisbane 2032 Olympic sites will be exempt from planning laws as officials race against time to get the Games venues built. But the Queensland government's move to help ensure infrastructure is completed has come under fire, with an advocacy group describing it as a "slap in the face". The clock is ticking for the Games after the state government finally confirmed its venue blueprint in March, more than 1300 days after Brisbane was named host city. A bill will be introduced to state parliament on Thursday, giving the Games infrastructure authority power to override 15 planning laws, including the Environmental Protection, Queensland Heritage and Nature Conservation Acts. The laws covering all venues and the athletes villages are set to ensure construction is not delayed by potential legal challenges, with the final planning sign-off given to the state government - not local councils. However, advocacy group Save Victoria Park said it would still be exploring legal action against the construction of the Brisbane 2032 centrepiece. Victoria Park is expected to become the Brisbane Games hub, with a 63,000-seat main stadium and a nearby national aquatic centre set to be built. "We are outraged but not deterred by the Crisafulli government's plans," Save Victoria Park spokeswoman Rosemary O'Hagan said. "It's a slap in the face to the community and to democracy. "Save Victoria Park remains committed to protecting this precious parkland, our city's green lungs, for generations to come." The advocacy group has raised about $70,000 via GoFundMe for a legal challenge exploring the impact on the park's heritage status and environment. The group has argued Olympic venue construction would destroy valuable green space at a site of significance to First Nations communities. A major construction body has backed the bill, indicating the legislation is necessary to deliver venues on time. "We can't afford a business-as-usual, step-by-step approach" Australian Constructors Association chief executive Jon Davies told AAP. "The clock is ticking and delivery depends on co-ordinated action starting now." The state government said it did not make the decision lightly. "The overwhelming comments from Queenslanders is 'get on with it', and that's what we need to do," Olympic Minister Tim Mander said. "We've got seven years to go. We have time but we haven't got time to muck around." The bill also reduces the Games' organising committee board from 24 to 15, with the likes of golfing great Greg Norman reportedly on the chopping block. The Queensland Conservation Council also took aim at the laws, saying the bill set a "really worrying precedent". "As a general principle we should't be overruling environmental protection," the council's Dave Copeman said. "When we are doing something like the Olympics we shouldn't be taking shortcuts." He raised concerns for southeast Queensland's endangered koala population, saying the site for the Redland Whitewater Centre planned for 2032 was a known habitat.
ABC News
30-04-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Government to introduce bill that will override 15 planning laws for 2032 Olympic venues
All venues to be built for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games, including the Victoria Park stadium, are set to be exempt from major planning rules. The Queensland government will introduce a bill to parliament today to give the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA) power to override 15 planning laws. This includes the Environmental Protection Act, the Planning Act, the Queensland Heritage Act, the Local Government Act, and the Nature Conservation Act. The Queensland government plans to build a new stadium at Victoria Park for the 2032 Games. ( Supplied ) The government is making the move in a bid to ensure projects are not held up by potential legal challenges — with the laws to cover all venues and the athletes' villages. The proposed law changes will mean final planning sign-off for all Games venues will rest with the state government, rather than councils. A white-water stadium, to be created in the Redlands, will offer international-level events as well as recreation and training opportunities. ( Queensland Government ) Deputy Premier and Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie said the laws would empower GIICA to "get on with the job" of delivering the 2032 Games. He also promised "appropriate checks and balances". "With the largest infrastructure investment in Queensland's history, it's important there are clear pathways to delivery, with the appropriate oversight of government in the right places," he said. Queensland Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie promised the appropriate checks and balances would still happen. ( AAP: Darren England ) The government said GICCA will still have ministerial oversight and that all projects will need to be assessed by the Cabinet Budget Review Committee before they get funding. Games infrastructure will also be subject to building compliance laws. Save Victoria Park spokeswoman Rosemary O'Hagan described the move as "kill-all, draconian" legislation and a "slap in the face" for the community. Rosemary O'Hagan (right) has been advocating against the stadium plans for Victoria Park, describing the government's plan to override planning laws as "a slap in the face". ( Supplied ) "You have to actually question … what is so wrong with these developments that they're putting in for the Olympics that they have to remove so many legal safeguards to actually build them," she said. " What is the point of having heritage protection and environmental protection if you're just going to override it all? " Ms O'Hagan said Save Victoria Park remained committed to safeguarding the 64 hectares of green space. "This is too important to just roll over and let the bulldozers roll in," she said. There have been protests by locals opposed to plans to building the Victoria Park stadium. ( AAP: Jono Searle ) After Other major venues include a new national aquatic centre at Spring Hill with a 2032 Games seating capacity of 25,000. A 3,000-seat show court arena will also be built at the Queensland Tennis Centre in Tennyson. The state government has vowed to keep the Olympics infrastructure budget The Brisbane Tennis Centre will be updated for the 2032 event, within the multi-billion-dollar budget shared by state and federal governments. ( Supplied )
