At the end of the 100 day review by the current QLD State Government, we now have direction as to a number of the venues for the 2032 Olympic Games.
With the Premier committing to deliver the projects on time and on budget, this is a big call. With delays in the past few years, a large component of work needs to be delivered in the next 6 years.
At the end of the 100-day review by the current QLD State Government, we have direction as to a number of the venues for the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane.
Some of the key announcement points are as follows:
- A New 63,000 Seat Arena at Victoria Park
- A New 25,000 Seat Games Mode National Aquatic Facility at Centenary Pool Spring Hill
- A New 20,000 Seat Outdoor Arena at the RNA Showgrounds
- The Games Village at Bowen Hills adjacent to the RNA Showgrounds
- Investment in Suncorp Stadium
- Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast Arenas
- Major upgrades to the Pat Rafter Arena including 12 new Courts and an additional 3,000 Seat Show court
- Redland Whitewater centre
- Demolition of the Gabba grounds in the long term after being used for Cricket for the Games. With the site to become a housing and entertainment precinct in the longer term
- New Large Indoor Sports Facilities at Logan and Moreton Bay
- Para Olympics specialist venue at Chandler
- A revised location for Brisbane Live and an alternative method to deliver this through private funding of the new vending at the Go Print Site adjacent to The Gabba
- More regional Venues to host sports including Cairns, Maryborough, Hervey Bay, Rockhampton, Townsville and the Whitsundays.
- Plus a number of Road and Transport options including extending the proposed Rail line from Caloundra to Birtinya and Metro through to Maroochydore and Sunshine Coast Airport including the Mooloolah River interchange
- Substantial Funding to grassroots clubs through the Games on Program delivering $250m in upgrades to local sporting facilities
With the Premier committing to deliver the projects on time and on budget, we believe that this is a big call. With delays in the past few years there is now a large component of work that needs to be delivered in the next 6 years.
With the catchphrase “to get on with it” we believe that the State Government needs to work quickly to ensure that these venues will be delivered.
We believe that they will need to make a number of changes to traditional policy to deliver these projects in the time left and in line with budgets including:
- Review their procurement models with Alliance and negotiated contracts for key projects
- Different risk models to share risks
- Incentivise interstate workers to come to Queensland
- Incentives for Regional Workers to come to South East Queensland
- Manage productivity and look at ways to improve productivity. We need to improve the 3.1 Days a week average productivity on large projects to closer to 4 days average
- Manage industrial relations and delays on ley projects
- Look at QBCC licensing requirements and financial licensing for larger Tier 1 contractor to reduce the financial ratios requirement to increase the pool of Tier 1 contractors willing to bid on larger projects
- Rapid training options to upskill and get tradespeople qualified in a shorter period than the tradition 4 year apprenticeship.
- Incentives for retired tradespeople to return to the work force
- Rapid Training for construction professionals and incentives for companies to train new staff
- Better co-ordination of State Government spend over the next 6 years
The opportunities for the next 6 years to showcase Brisbane and Queensland on the international stage are fantastic as well as leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come if we get it right.
Time will tell so let’s get on with it.