The 2032 Summer Olympics will be held in Brisbane, Australia. As the focal point of the Games, the Brisbane Cricket Ground is to be demolished and rebuilt. The Queensland Government reaffirms its plans.
The Queensland government around Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk has unveiled its plans for a comprehensive revitalisation of the Woolloongabba neighbourhood and the Brisbane Cricket Ground - popularly known as The Gabba - including an active transport corridor to the South Bank and CBD. The Gabba is to be completely demolished and rebuilt, forming the core of a comprehensive urban regeneration that will also see the creation of more housing, including social and affordable housing.
New living space is also to be created as part of the project.
Queensland Government
The current Woolloongabba Priority Development Area will be expanded to include more of Woolloongabba and the Stanley Street precinct to the South Bank. As well as connecting to the Cross River Rail and Brisbane Metro, it will create a walkable link to the South Bank and Brisbane CBD via the new Brisbane City Council Green Bridge.
As part of the €1.73 billion redevelopment of the Brisbane Cricket Ground, the stadium will be completely demolished and rebuilt, with improved disabled access and transport links. Given the complexity of the construction project on a limited site, completely rebuilding the stadium is cheaper than trying to bring it up to a truly accessible, modern standard.
The new The Gabba will have a pedestrian walkway connecting the stadium to the new Cross River Rail Station and the future Metro station via a bridge over Main Street, improving accessibility for people of all mobility levels. The current stadium is nearing the end of its life and the transformation will meet the city’s long-term needs for professional sport, community and entertainment before and after 2032.
The government’s project envisages complete demolition with final new construction.
Queensland Government
The announcement follows the funding agreement between the Australian Government and the Queensland Government to deliver an infrastructure program worth more than €4.49 billion and the cost of implementing the Brisbane 2032 Masterplan.
Anastasia Palaszczuk says: "We know that hosting the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to accelerate the infrastructure and housing we need for a growing Queensland. The Gabba has hosted sport for more than a century, hosting cricket and AFL most weeks of the year. But it’s no secret that Queensland is already missing out on major sporting events - and the tourism, jobs and investment that come with them - because the stadium is not up to scratch. It needs to be upgraded to maintain our competitiveness for international sport and events. When it’s finished, this stadium will shine for Queensland and so will the area around it." (STADIAWORLD, 21.02.2023)
