Let’s be real – the previous Palaszcuk-led Labor Government hadn’t exactly run the smoothest Olympic program to date. Where was the independent Olympic organising committee that was meant to be set up by the former premier and minister for Olympic Games Annastacia Palaszcuk?
Whether you like it or not, we’ve got the Olympic Games, and now we must deliver them and show the world we can host it in a smart way, independent and removed from the political equation and with the future of this city in mind. More importantly for those who disagree with the games, let’s see these games as a way to build infrastructure that we otherwise wouldn’t be getting.
Fortunately for Brisbane, the city was given the longest amount of time ever to plan for the games in history. Usually host cities only get seven years from the time the games are awarded to the actual event. We still have eight long years before the games start, which is more than enough time to plan and construct infrastructure.
The Olympic Stadium
I don’t think we should throw the baby out with the bath water with the refurbishment of the Gabba stadium. Let’s face it, in 10-20 years, the Gabba stadium will need a refurbishment anyway. It is a well used and popular stadium for many people in Brisbane. Home to the Brisbane Lions, Queensland Cricket Club and does on occasion host massive music concerts like Adele back in 2017.
Delaying a refurb of the Gabba will actually cost us more money in 20 years time when a future government five election cycles from now decides that the aging concrete structure needs refurbishing.
John Coates recent idea to use the ancient QE2 stadium which sits in an outer suburb of Brisbane with no mass transport links or anything to do surrounding the stadium as the main stadium would be a tragic waste of an opportunity we have to make Woollooongabba a truely amazing precinct and suburb in ten years time.
Cross River Rail
Not using a brand new $6.5 billion Cross River Rail line in any capacity for the Olympics is absurd. The new underground station will be connected to the entire SEQ railway network and will be world class – on par with other Olympic precincts constructed around the world which all have had rail connections. QE2 in Nathan has no such public transport links and using buses to get people in and out would be an absolute disaster and embarrassment.
Now if you want to get bold and out there, I would say let’s build a new stadium at Northshore Hamilton and then connect it to a new East-West subway line connecting Brisbane up the way it should. However, that wouldn’t help the Gabba, which would sit there aging. Don’t get me wrong, Brisbane needs an east-west subway regardless, and one would think the Olympics would be an enabling factor to build such a line but the Gabba refurb, not rebuild plan does make sense.
World class cities need updated sporting venues, the same way Suncorp Stadium was refurbished in 2001 for $280 million. Could you imagine the cost if it wasn’t done back then and was being upgraded now? The Gabba is at that same point of needed an upgrade. Our city of almost 3 million people only has two stadiums, its not an outrageous or lavish idea to keep the two we have upgraded and on par with Sydney, Melbourne or Perth stadiums.
Stephen Miles getting the former LNP Mayor of Brisbane Graham Quirk to review the Woolloongabba plan is a stroke of genius as it strangely in a way instantly de-politicises the stadium refurbishment or rebuild, if that is what they decide.
Brisbane Live
This one really gets me. Don’t lump Brisbane Live into the Olympics. Period. Brisbane Live was proposed way before the Brisbane Olympics was a thing and should continue regardless of the games. The idea of the inner city arena was floated because the city needs it. I think every Brisbanite can agree that the Boondal Entertainment centre has had its day, is in the wrong place and a new arena in the CBD makes sense for music events or otherwise.
The federal government has agreed to fund this arena completely, money that would have otherwise come from the Queensland Government budget if it weren’t for the Olympics.
Conclusion
As a disclaimer, for those reading this thinking that refurbishing a stadium is a waste of money because we need to be building social and affordable housing as well as more mass transit and smaller local community events. Yes, funding needs to be increased on all of that too.
However a refurbished Gabba stadium won’t and shouldn’t stop government funding for all of those things. If anything, the Olympic movement should be making the government act on fixing the city’s growing homelessness problem and investing in more mass transit.
The greens proposal (seen below) of the area adjacent to the stadium (the former go print site) has some good ideas and would be quite cool, but so too would a refurbished stadium. So why can’t we do both? and make this future Woolloongabba precinct an incredible place to live, work or visit.
Fine – but why should public money be used to fund what is essentially a privately run business.
I am sure the tax payers in western Queensland will benefit greatly for expensive facilities built in Brisbane.
This is a narrow minded view of the situation (lest we also forget that rural and regional Australia are constantly subsidised and bailed out whenever drought, flood or other Australian natural disaster strikes). The bulk of rural Qld is marginal at best and a question mark constantly sits over the viability and environmental credentials of these rural business pursuits.
It’s not a country v’s city argument. What it is, is an opportunity to elevate the capital city on the National and World Stage, attract Federal and State funding to secure projects that add value, livability and improve the lives of many (which otherwise wouldn’t be secured given the weight of population in Melbourne and Sydney – and therefore seats in Parliament) and in doing so, attract national and international businesses to relocate to South East Queensland. Securing these businesses away from a Sydney or Melbourne CBD changes the long held belief that Brisbane is a provincial outpost and puts us on the path of true competition, improved quality of jobs available to our young (rather than a brain drain where they feel forced to move interstate or overseas) and arguably translate into better services and quality of life for us all.
The Olympics is not just about sport, its about promoting all of Queensland globally, improving our tourist destination credentials and associated flow on investment, diversifying commerce and industry and putting SEQ on a future proof path to success. It’s no secret that national powerbrokers are all located in southern states and these games are a vehicle to wrestle back opportunities for current and future generations who will call Brisbane / SEQ / Qld home.
100 % agree, this article is false news. The Federal Government are not paying. That has been denied, we the Qld taxpayer are solely going to pay. The announcement was made before it was fact and there are other options out there that won’t cost 3 billion dollars to Queensland residents. Three billion dollars could build a lot of housing. Sorry spending like this creates a hang over of deep resentment as proven in other countries. people have nowhere to live and they want to bulldoze a heritage listed Primary school. This article needs updating, The Federal Government is not paying and even the Mayor has pulled out and all Olympic commitee. The Gabba was never a consideration or needed as part of the winning bid, it is not needed.
One of the major costs of any significant infrastructure build these days comes from union involvement. When their bullying is curtailed, private and tax payer dollars can be spent so much more efficiently. Union control at the moment has reduced many projects to only 3 days productivity per week, exorbitant labour costs, and consequently massive cost of living increases, for EVERYONE!
Why not make use of the QE11 site. It after all was our commonwealth games venue. It would be a great opportunity to build a new rail line to service the stadium with it continuing all the way the Redland Bay, potentially unlocking new land for residential development. Not to mention the new inner suburban stations that could host higher density living options.
The Brisbane Live arena should be built regardless and would provide the state government with an opportunity to turn the Boondal Entertainment site into a new high density urban village, similar to Kelvin Grove Village, boosting much needed housing supply.
I have two hesitations about using QSAC:
It will be difficult to get large numbers of people to/from the venue during the Olympics / Paralympics. We’d need an awful lot of buses and would need to close at least one lane of the Southeast Freeway.
What is the future of the site? Yes, it’s used by athletics, but little else – in part because of the lack of transport noted above. I would hesitate to spend a lot of money on something that will get little use afterwards.
Building a new undergrould rail line to QE11 after we just have invested in Cross River Rail would be even more expensive than just demolishing the Gabba and rebuilding it.
If the goal is to save money, then moving it to QSAC and not bothering with any public transport is what the Govt will do.
QE2 needs major improvements to host the atheltics and that would be wasted money as QE2 will never be a major venue and the Gabba will need an upgrade in the future anyway. At least the Gabba upgrade leaves behind a venue that’ll be well-used and well-loved.
Spot on .. stop senseless knocking down of infrastructure. By all means spend the money on the area around the stadium to create legacy public spaces for high density living into the future.
Forget about the school.. create places of excellence that will be heritage listed in 100 years. We have heaps of pre 1950 everything.
The more intercity walkable facilities we have will create a virtuous cycle of tourism, creativity, livability etc that will provide an economic advantage way in excess of one off events like the games.
The most important outcome is the design quality of the precint. It should be vigorously subtropical to create a point of difference from other cities of the world
Phil
Knock down BEC (overdue) and build one there… Next to the rail line…
I’ve said it before in other articles, but it’s still a valid point:
Rebuild a new stadium directly ontop of the cross-river rail (formerly Go-Print building) site. It’s the same footprint as the current Gabba stadium, so it’ll fit easily within the confines of Vulture St, Stanley St, Leopard St & Main St.
This will also integrate the train line directly into the stadium. The cross-river rail line is deep below current street levels so it’s not as if a new stadium will need to be pushed upwards.
This will also mean the existing Gabba stadium can be used all the way up to the Olympics before demolition: no change of venue for the cricket or AFL.
This will also free up the existing Gabba site for a hybrid mix of residential buildings and parkland (or possibly an oval.) I.e. what’s proposed for the current cross-river rail site -you just do that one block Eastward.
This would make the existing East Brisbane State School both relevant and usable -especially if school sports can take place on the new oval. You could even swap out high-rise residential buildings for more school facilities if there’s future demand expected.
The only real downside is the cost: since you’re building a brand new stadium. Which is what’s proposed in this article anyway.
Hi Greg,
The devil is in the detail. The Woolloongabba Underground Station, caverns and tunnels are not able to support the structural loads due a stadium being built directly above. Woolloongabba underground station cannot accommodate development directly above the footprint of the station. Any feasibility study will conclude very quickly that this idea is not technicality feasible.
Hopefully this provides some background as to why this idea is not being pursued.
Regards,
Robert
If they are building Gabba CRR station without allowing for stuff to be built on top of it then it’s an appalling lack of foresight. In any case I’m sure it could be engineered appropriately if building over Roma St rail lines is feasible surely Gabba CRR is too…
Hi notanengineer
Roma and Gabba two very different sites. With regards to Gabba site, as mentioned it is a large development site. As with any development site, a portion is required for low density / green space. The masterplan for the precinct allows tall development adjacent to the underground station, with open green space at the station entry/exit and above the footprint. This is actually smart efficient design – locate the green space in the constrained areas, and the high density in the unconstrained areas. Also keeps the station entry visible, in open space with natural light and ventilation, etc. Good design and value management.
Also an underground structure cannot be designed for infinite undefined future possibilities. The station was designed 5 years ago – before Brisbane even won the Olympics. A commercial building vs resi vs health care vs a stadium all have different grid spacing, column locations, loading, number of levels, etc. Engineering design need precision, it is simply not feasible to design for a highly loaded column to be positioned anywhere!
I would put it to you that future proofing an underground station for an undefined and unconfirmed “what if” future scenario would add significant cost to an already expense project and would be an appalling waste of public money and very poor design management.
Regards
Robert
Rob, thanks for the contribution. But I’ve got to disagree with you there: it’s quite feasible to build ontop of the CRR underground station.
It’s a big site, and the overall CRR footprint (stations and tunnels) covers less than half of it. You just need transfer beams to take loads from the stadium down either side of the CRR tunnels. Concept mock-ups for the site show high-rise buildings in areas where there CRR doesn’t exist.
Regardless of the location, modern stadiums have quite alot of sub-surface space -stuff like utility rooms/ change rooms/ logistics areas etc. etc. So you could incorporate transfer slabs into the sub-surface structure, which would allow the stadium to bridge the station & tunnels beneath.
Yes -the devil is in the details and it’ll probably add to construction costs. It’s also a more costly option than just refurbishing the existing stadium. But I spruik this idea since it provides the best value for money long-term. Especially when you consider the surrounding area -there’s a reason people are protesting the removal of East Brisbane State School.
The soon-to-be high density suburb of Woolloongabba will need public space and all the school facilities it can get. Leaving legacy space now will save a fortune in future land-acquisitions.
Hi Greg
You are exactly right in that concept mock-ups show high-rise buildings in areas where CRR doesn’t exist. They show green space above the station footprint, because the precinct design does not accommodate building above it, as explained in my post above.
The footprint of the cut-and-cover part of the station is approx. 70m x 80m. It is simply not viable to transfer over this underground constraint to support a stadium. Making a statement this is feasible does not make it so – what is your reasoning?
Not to mention the impact that putting the station entry below a stadium would have – it would destroy any public amenity, precinct wayfinding, street activation, natural light, natural ventilation, fire safety, etc, etc.
If this idea was viable, you can be sure that the world-class design community in Brisbane would be advocating for it. But they are not, because the idea is simply not viable.
Thanks
Robert
Any if we think $2.7B is expensive to build on relatively unconstrained existing site, can you imagine the bill for transfer structure over a station??? Plus the station unusable while the stadium being built.
Redeveloping the Gabba is a pivotal step in Brisbane’s transformation for the Games. Creating a state-of-the-art stadium in a nearby CBD area not only enhances sporting infrastructure but also catalyzes the revitalization of the entire Woolloongabba neighborhood. Brisbane’s evolution into a world-class city demands such forward-thinking projects. The potential is immense, making this endeavor incredibly exciting. In hindsight, we may wonder why this initiative wasn’t undertaken sooner. It’s an opportunity we can’t afford to miss as we shape the future of our city.
Robert,
It’s quite feasible from an engineering perspective to structurally to bridge the underground station and tunnels; this isn’t the first underground structure to be bridged. All the points you make about access/ lighting etc etc apply to all the other underground stations like Albert St: these have buildings overhead. Implementing a solution for the Gabba station is do-able.
But you make a valid point regarding the costs. A new stadium is still the more expensive option. And although I’ve argued the cost produces big rewards long term, that’s an uphill battle to sway public opinion. The politics of such a decision makes it a difficult sell. Even with a stable State Government who’s willing to spend, it’s unlikely to be implemented.
There’s the argument for doing the reverse: relocating the existing school and any potential green spaces to the CRR site. Which would fit into what your desired outcome would be. But as other commenters point out, several issues still remain.
1. Demolition of historically listed (school) buildings.
2. Loss of school facilities in the local area. (Relocating the primary school to Coorparoo was heavily criticized by the local community, and a rallying point for keeping the school where it currently is.)
3. A change of venue for the AFL and Cricket during refurbishment; no one wants to foot the bill. The last attempt caused this current crisis of confidence.
How does the State Government address these broader issues whilst keeping on-budget? Will we be sold a ‘minor cost’ for the Gabba refurb, then get hit with another cost later on for appeasing the AFL/Cricket. And then another cost to reintroduce green space and school facilities later on?
Wow BD who wrote this biased article?
it’s a stadium it’s not critical infrastructure and the cost does not justify its upgrade- AFL and Cricket can contribute then if they do need it. The Olympics has to have legacy benefit otherwise we might as well cancel it
Great article and fantastic perspective.
All the alternatives are interim solutions and in 10yrs time we’ll be right back in the same place, except by then the upgrade of The Gabba will be non-negotiable and the cost will be $25bn.
This sort of infrastructure needs to be built properly, otherwise we’ll be a poor man who pays twice.
Very glib view you have taken on the destruction and rebuilding the Gabba.
No mention of losing the only school in the area or the greenspace also. Massive community dislocation and social cohesion damage.
No mention of the horrendous congestion around Main Street, Vulture Street and Stanley Street that would ensue.
No mention of the rejection by BCC, Cricket Australia and Lions to spend $23m on a temporary ground ar Bowen Hills.
No mention of the real cost, it’s already gone from $1 Billion to $2.7 Billion, if you applied the same overrun the Cross River Rail or Kangaroo Point Green Bridge has suffered, it would be more like $4 Billion.
Then to say the Gabba would only have 10-20 years of life left anyway??
Late last year I was standing in awe at York Minster, some 1200 years old. Would it need replacing in another 250 years?
Perfect logic, perfectly spoken.
Why are so many people against progress?
Spend money to make money!
If we are seriously in need of a new stadium…lets keep the current one while we build a new one right on top of the new transport hub.
During the games we have two stadium located right on the transport hub.
This site is effected by noise from the freeway, so not best for residential.
This site has a great aspect to the freeway. Imagine the spectacle of the full height bill board facing the freeway (if the imagined LED screen goes ahead – government revenue).
The future stadium will have you arrive by bus and train and head straight up. No need for an expensive crossover over Main Street.
In moving up from the transport hub you will rise through a food court/shops/amenities usefull for Day-to-day residents but also perfect for stadium days
We do not relocate a school (so needed for the population that will arrive with all the new accommodation) but rather after the old stadium is dropped and an new oval is provided for the school and it can also become (like Fortitude Valley ) a P-12 school.
New housing can then also wrap the other three sides of the old site and look over the new Central park. This development then also houses 25% or more social housing… maybe even paid for by private developers. Admittedly is comes later, but it then arrives after the games and the cash for the demo of the stadium now (and temporarily stadium and costs of temporarily relocating all the sports) is what is spent on Social housing in other (or immediately surrounding areas).
No need to build a temporary stadium at the Ekka and then knock it down.
Let’s get smart if we do have to spend this gross amount of cash.
I completely agree
Might be just overthinking things too much, but could the school be built on top of the station (and even expanded compared to the current school) to accommodate a Gabba rebuild?
Personally The Gabba needs a refurbishment especially for the athletes, they are by far the worst dressing rooms and facilities for players in the AFL of all venues used more than 3 times a year, and even the revamped media centre had issues during the recent test match with fogging restricting their views without resorting to TV screens.
Agree. The Gabba site is a no brainer. Why is a school still there? Who wants their kids crossing 4 lanes either side anyway to get to school – how many cars travel through there … 50,000 a day? It’s a stupid location for a school and it needed moving decades ago. There’s a sensible plan it place for its relocation and incl facility upgrades like having a pool. The positives outweigh the negative.
As for refurb vs rebuild. It’s complicated. A new stadium while expensive can be built with modern engineering and access functionality. For example, having an underground level. If space is an issue, build tunnels on Stanley and/or Vulture Streets … access to the underground level into via Vulture St and exist via Stanley Street. This would give pedestrian space to and from ‘the fiveways’ precinct. Rethink and think big e.g. Allegiant stadium… NRL open games being played there. And if we’re building legacy for 10 years post Olympics, why only 50k of seats? Greater Brissy will be over 5 million people by 2041 so we need at least 60,000 seats to future proof it. Now Allegiant stadium cost 3 billion USD. But if you look at cost items there’s: land purchase of $300 million (Gabba has existing land) , stadium roof (cost? say $50 million – not required for the Gabba), switch-able turf from synthetic to natural, yes the whole ground can be replaced within hours) … cost? hundreds of millions and not required forthe Gabba. It’s also 65,000 seats. So there’s costs not needed for the Gabba. Let’s Go!
Having the Olympics is a real chance to show our city, state and country on the world stage. With more interest in our city etc means greater opportunity for prosperity for all. I think we need to be bold and have vision. There are many people saying we shouldnt rebuild the Gabba, or even have the Olympics and they all have their merits. But this is about building a legacy for our city.
As some people have said that the Gabba is getting pretty ‘Long in the Tooth’. Not exactly falling down but definitely not shiney and new. It needs to be upgraded. Brisbane has lost some Cricket tests due to it not being up to scratch. So why cant we look at this from a different perspective.
A city the size of Brisbane needs a decent stadium and a new stadium like the Gabba would be well utilised for both Cricket and AFL. The Gabba as it now stands is really constrained by the buildings around it. Why not find another location for Cricket & AFL and do like what Perth has done. We could fund the cost of the new stadium by selling the land that the Gabba sits on to make it into a new town centre/hub. That way it would be attractive to people living there as it will be 1 station stop away from Albert St and 2 from Roma St. It would be a very attractive prospect I would have thought.
The longer we leave doing something about having a decent stadium for Cricket and AFL the more cost will become astronomical. I know the Gabb has sentimental history but it just does not seem to be fit for purpose anymore in this modern world and especially as Brisbane is getting bigger. Maybe we need to ‘rip the band aid off’ now as painful as it might be and think about parting ways with the Gabba as it now stands.
Totally agree.
1. If you are not for the olympics then you don’t want to spend any money regardless of the using Gabba or not – (we get it but this is shortsighted)
2. If you support the olympics then we need to upgrade “something” – if they use QE2 + Suncorp there is still a $500m-$1b upgrade on the cards at an absolute minimum, maybe more which will produce a white elephant that no one really uses after the olympics + all the issues with transport there etc.
3. The Gabba makes sense to “upgrade” as the CRR is going in and you need a world class stadium in Brisbane anyway to attract top events + you will get efficiencies from what is being built on-top of the CRR anyway (overpass, park, facilities etc.)
4. The federal government is funding Brisbane Live – why don’t they build this on top of the CRR and then upgrade the Gabba while sharing prelims, materials, resources etc. to do so more efficiently? We need both regardless of the Olympics.
5. The majority of “cost” in the $2.7b price tag is the over-the-top 6 star green rating, using recyclable materials and CMFEU tax. The reality is you could build a stadium for a lot less that’s world class if you had someone pragmatic running the ship!
6. It’s sad that the political contentiousness has taken over the show once again. Long term infrastructure and stadium are always contentious initially but everyone is so thankful they have them 10 years later….this is another one of those situations.
Brisbane 2032 Olympics – 50 years on from the Commonwealth Games and still going backwards.
New 80,000 seat stadium at Albion. Replace the Gabba stadium with Brisbane Live and then utilise the newly created space for social housing and parkland.