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Perth Now
6 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Indigenous group in legal bid to stop Olympic park plan
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.
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Indigenous group lodges application for federal protection of Brisbane stadium site
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: A man walks at the Victoria Park-Barrambin, where the main stadium will be built for the 2032 Olympics, in Brisbane, Australia July 21, 2025. REUTERS/Nick Mulvenney/File Photo SYDNEY - A group representing Brisbane's two Indigenous peoples lodged an application with the Australian federal government on Tuesday for the permanent protection of the site where the city plans to build the main stadium for the 2032 Olympics. The Yagara and Magandjin peoples want the inner city Victoria Park, known to them as Barrambin, to be protected for perpetuity under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act as a "significant Aboriginal area". "Barrambin is living country, possessing sacred, ancient and significant relationships within our cultural heritage systems," elder Gaja Kerry Charlton said in a statement on behalf of the Yagara Magandjin Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC). "It was a complete shock when the Premier came out with his stadium plans ... 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." No one at the organising committee for the Games, or the Office for the Deputy Premier of Queensland Jarrod Bleijie, who is responsible for Olympic construction, was immediately available for comment. After years of political wrangling, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli announced in March that a 63,000-seat stadium would be constructed and Victoria Park's Centenary Pool rebuilt to provide a 25,000-seat aquatics centre for the Olympics. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Israel to decide next steps in Gaza after ceasefire talks collapse Singapore 'I wish I can hear her sing again,' says boyfriend of Yishun fatal crash victim Asia What's it like to deal with brutal US tariffs? Ask Malaysia Singapore Singapore launches review of economic strategy to stay ahead of global shifts Singapore A look at the five committees reviewing Singapore's economic strategy Opinion Keeping it alive: How Chinese opera in Singapore is adapting to the age of TikTok Life Glamping in Mandai: Is a luxury stay at Colugo Camp worth the $550 price tag? In June, Crisafulli's government enacted legislation to exempt the Olympic building projects from normal planning rules. The Save Victoria Park campaign, which released a shared statement with YMAC on Tuesday, said June's legislation was "unprecedented" and overrode existing acts of parliament on environmental protection and First Nations rights. "We estimate the majority of the parkland and hundreds of mature trees will now be sacrificed," Save Victoria Park spokesperson Sue Bremner said. "And as we face this profound and irreversible loss of cultural heritage and human rights, Olympic organisers continue to promote 2032 as being the first Games with a Reconciliation Action Plan. It is simply astounding." Organising committee President Andrew Liveris told Reuters last month that anyone who objected to the development would be heard, but that June's legislation was essential to keep the project on track to deliver the venues before 2032. REUTERS
Sydney Morning Herald
6 days ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Aboriginal corporation lodges legal fight over Victoria Park
A local Aboriginal corporation has lodged an application with the federal government for permanent legal protection of Victoria Park, also known as Barrambin, where the state plans to build a key Olympic stadium. The Yagara Magandjin Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) made the application under federal legislation that allows the Commonwealth to declare long-term protection of a significant Aboriginal area under threat of injury or desecration. 'It was a complete shock when the premier came out with his stadium plans,' YMAC spokeswoman and Yagarabul elder Gaja Kerry Charlton said. 'He said the park would be protected from stadiums; I thought the park was safe. Now the government wants to destroy it.' Charlton said Barrambin was 'living Country, possessing sacred, ancient and significant relationships within our cultural heritage systems'. '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. Loading 'We are very concerned there are ancient trees, artefacts and very important ecosystems existing there. 'There may be ancestral remains. We stand resolute in our responsibility to protect it.'
The Age
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Age
Aboriginal corporation lodges legal fight over Victoria Park
A local Aboriginal corporation has lodged an application with the federal government for permanent legal protection of Victoria Park, also known as Barrambin, where the state plans to build a key Olympic stadium. The Yagara Magandjin Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) made the application under federal legislation that allows the Commonwealth to declare long-term protection of a significant Aboriginal area under threat of injury or desecration. 'It was a complete shock when the premier came out with his stadium plans,' YMAC spokeswoman and Yagarabul elder Gaja Kerry Charlton said. 'He said the park would be protected from stadiums; I thought the park was safe. Now the government wants to destroy it.' Charlton said Barrambin was 'living Country, possessing sacred, ancient and significant relationships within our cultural heritage systems'. '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. Loading 'We are very concerned there are ancient trees, artefacts and very important ecosystems existing there. 'There may be ancestral remains. We stand resolute in our responsibility to protect it.'
