News Gabba Upgrade & Olympics News

[Perrip]

The Aus are reporting Albo is on board with the current venue plan from Crisafulli, but no formal intergovernmental agreement yet.

When Crisafulli announced his venue plans in March, which included breaking an election promise and committing to a brand-new taxpayer-funded $3.785bn, 63,000-seat stadium in Victoria Park, the feds wouldn’t sign up to backing it as the election loomed.
But Albanese is back in The Lodge, and Chooks hears that he met up with the Premier when he was in Brisbane for the first game of the State of Origin series.
Before the election, Albanese was still spruiking the Brisbane Arena to host the Olympic swimming and then becoming a concert venue, with the estimated $2.5bn construction cost paid for by the Commonwealth.
Our spies tell us that the PM has now been persuaded over to the state plan to dump the arena as an Olympic venue and to reallocate the $2.5bn to other projects for the Games.
But, both the state and federal governments have said no formal agreement has yet been reached on the funding deal, which is capped at $7.1bn.
Negotiations are currently under way, with the feds demanding more detail and airtight business cases on parts of the plan.
We now hear that is where the concern is mounting.
One spy tells us that those preparing the material could be likened to those competing in the 20km race walk and not the sprints.

 

[Perrip]

Locals want to sink bid for new Olympic whitewater site

A plan to build a Brisbane 2032 whitewater venue has been rejected by an angry community amid calls for an Olympic drawcard to be held interstate.
The proposed Redland Whitewater Centre east of Brisbane is set to host canoe slalom in 2032 after the Queensland government rejected a recommendation to hold the event in NSW.
It looms as a major Brisbane Games attraction with champion sisters Jessica and Noemie Fox not ruling out vying for 2032 Olympic gold.
But locals believe they have drawn “the short straw” in a long-awaited 2032 plan, calling for canoe slalom to be hosted at 2000 Games venue Penrith, NSW.
“It has been forced upon the people of the Redlands city, we never asked for it,” Birkdale Progress Association’s treasurer Ross Spence told a Queensland parliamentary committee hearing on Monday.
...
But locals are outraged, citing financial and environmental concerns.
A community spokesman said the “damn” whitewater facility should be hosted by Penrith where it was “wanted”, citing the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
At the LA Games, canoe slalom will be hosted about 3000 kilometres away in Oklahoma – almost triple the distance from Brisbane to Penrith.
“Not even the Americans are going to put a new whitewater facility in,” Redlands2030 Inc president Steven MacDonald told the committee hearing.
“We could follow the example of our American cousins and move the damn thing somewhere where it’s wanted.”
A senate inquiry recommended Penrith as the “first and only choice” for a 2032 whitewater venue, raising concerns a Redlands venue may become a “white elephant”.
The Queensland government rejected the concerns, opting to hold every 2032 Olympic event in the state.
Spence feared a Redlands whitewater facility would become an ongoing financial burden after the Games, questioning its viability.
“A whitewater stadium is the short straw of Olympic venues,” he said.
Spence was addressing committee hearings to allow consultation on a bill giving the Games infrastructure authority power to override 15 planning laws, including environmental protection and heritage acts.
The laws will ensure Olympic venue construction is not delayed by potential legal challenges, with the final planning sign-off given to the state government, not local councils.
Locals also raised environmental concerns on Monday, saying the proposed Birkdale site was next to two state heritage-listed sites and bushland home to endangered wildlife, including koalas.
They feared Olympic construction not subject to planning laws might destroy the heritage sites and impact healthy koala colonies.
“By setting aside these laws and protections, the state government is choosing to deny democracy and the rights of communities everywhere to have a voice,” Spence said.
The proposed Redlands site will be only the second world-class whitewater facility built in Australia after the Penrith venue was constructed for Sydney 2000, becoming the Fox sisters’ home course.
Peak body Paddle Australia was ecstatic about the plan, with chief executive Kim Crane hoping locals would embrace the facility and help build competitor depth.
“We have been craving an additional course. We have been punching above our weight with one,” Crane said in March.
“We will now be able to secure more international events – it’s a real legacy.”

 

[BRAB]

Locals want to sink bid for new Olympic whitewater site

Is there an Olympic site that isn’t opposed by nimbys?

The Gold Coast NIMBY’s are going off about the Southport arena as well.

 

[lionraven]

Is there an Olympic site that isn’t opposed by nimbys?

The Gold Coast NIMBY’s are going off about the Southport arena as well.

By definition NIMBYs are always going to go off on any new development. The issue is NIMBYs are the ones who are going to make all the noise as they want the status quo changed. YIMBYs are already happy with the status quo and don't need to go around causing scenes and trying to get on the news. The question you have to ask yourself is when the media spotlights NIMBYs, is it worth your time listening to them? Also remember commercial media also has their own interest in serving you shit so that you remain 'engaged' rather than informed.

 

[BuntonRules]

By definition NIMBYs are always going to go off on any new development. The issue is NIMBYs are the ones who are going to make all the noise as they want the status quo changed. YIMBYs are already happy with the status quo and don't need to go around causing scenes and trying to get on the news. The question you have to ask yourself is when the media spotlights NIMBYs, is it worth your time listening to them? Also remember commercial media also has their own interest in serving you shit so that you remain 'engaged' rather than informed.

Never forget having a beer in Byron one night (back in the early 90's), and this bloke was going off about a proposed new "estate". Locals told us later he had been there about 5 years - bought into a new "estate", but now there was going to be another one behind him - cutting off his bush view/access.

 

[Black Panther]

Just saw on Sky News that Albo has thrown a bomb into what we all thought was a final venue plan months ago by speculating on moving venues in particular tennis & rowing

 

[Perrip]

Just saw on Sky News that Albo has thrown a bomb into what we all thought was a final venue plan months ago by speculating on moving venues in particular tennis & rowing

It was on a podcast the other day. Anthony Albanese says 2032 Brisbane Games could still move some events
The plan is still subject to approvals and classifications, etc.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has sensationally cast doubt over the Brisbane 2032 venue plan by suggesting Melbourne could still host tennis and rowing be relocated from Rockhampton to Sydney.
The state government has been quick to slap down Mr Albanese’s suggestions declaring all events will be held in Queensland.
Mr Albanese – appearing on the Two Good Sports podcast published Friday – said there was “a bit of a debate going on” over the Games and called out the two sports when discussing the viability and burden to taxpayers of major events.
“I’ve been meeting with (2032 Organising Committee President) Andrew Liveris as well as with the Queensland Premier (David) Crisafulli about where it goes,” he told the podcast. “For example, are we really going to do rowing in Rockhampton on the Fitzroy River when there are some pretty good facilities at Penrith?” “There’s a debate over tennis and what’s needed there in Brisbane as well.”
The surprise comments come as the Albanese and Crisafulli government remained locked in discussions to repurpose $2.5b allocated to the indoor Brisbane Arena in the intergovernmental agreement.
The federal and state governments are joint partners in the $7.1bn Olympic venue infrastructure build, which includes a new 3000-seat show court and 12 new match courts are slated for the Queensland Tennis Centre as part of a Games upgrade.
“You have pretty good tennis facilities here (in Melbourne),” Mr Albanese told the podcast. “Those things need to be worked through." “It might be that the tennis stadium is built in Brisbane – fantastic." “I think it’s legitimate for there to be proper discussion." “But it might be that you just can’t do everything in one spot in the future.”
Hosting rowing in the crocodile-infested river has drawn criticism and ridicule.
Mr Crisafulli has previously said he would ensure “Melbourne will not be taking the tennis from Brisbane”.
Former Queensland Premier has reiterated the importance of collaboration between the Queensland and the Australian governments in the overall delivery of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“Look these are the Queensland games and the Australian games and can I just say this will be worked out. It will be worked out between the Queensland government and the Australian government,” Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Weekend Today on Saturday morning." “But the Queensland government can’t go and make these unilateral decisions.”
Ms Palaszczuk said all forms of government need to sit down with the IOC and come to an agreement to deliver the “people’s games.”
A Brisbane 2032 spokesman said discussions relating to the Venue Master Plan were ongoing between key stakeholders, including the International Olympic and Paralympic committees, and International Federations.
“We are moving swiftly to make operational assessments and to align our Venue Master Plan and initial sports program, ready for endorsement from the IOC, IPC and International Federations next year,” the spokesman said.
“Delivering world-class fields of play that provide an optimal performance environment for athletes remains key for Brisbane 2032 and ensuring International Federations are involved in planning and delivery will help achieve this outcome." “We are also focused on ensuring the Venue Master Plan accounts for a safe, secure and accessible environment for all participants and spectators and gives Brisbane 2032 the best chance of commercial success, given we are self-funded.”
Rowing Queensland chief executive officer Anthea O’Loughlin welcomed Mr Albanese’s engagement “in the ongoing discussion about the location of rowing for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games”.
“We support the decision to keep rowing in Queensland and look forward to continued discussion on suitability, legacy value and long-term benefit to the sport,” she said.
In response to his podcast comments, an Albanese government spokesman said there needed to be a “common sense approach” to ensure 2032 was a great Games.
“We’re working closely and in good faith with the Queensland Government around any proposed changes to Olympics venues,” he said. “These discussions are underway.”

 

[Perrip]

 

[Section 5]

It was on a podcast the other day. Anthony Albanese says 2032 Brisbane Games could still move some events
The plan is still subject to approvals and classifications, etc.

I think Crisafulli has done fine so far in making the hard decisions on the 2 very costly venues.
But remember they are just important decisions as no shovels in the ground for the stadium and BA.

A new Victoria Park Stadium.
Dropping the Brisbane Arena from the Commonwealth funding and also moving it to the old GoPrint site that should be a lot cheaper to build. Both those BA decisions i have been proposing to various MPs for some time.
These two proposed projects were the overwhelming 2 holding up progress for years.

To date the Commonwealth agreement has not been changed and is still tied to the Brisbane Arena.
So, the commonwealth has $3.4 billion of funds Crisafulli still needs. If the Commonwealth (Albo) wants the tennis in Melbourne he has that lever to pull.

Crisafulli needs to take a breath and start to realize he and his deputy are nowhere near capable of organizing an Olympic Games. Making venue decisions is great but that won't get things built in time. Changing the site of the main village was a big change and is fine with me. Most of the venues were well underway under Labor but he did make a few minor changes. Most of this could have been done without leaving his office once the review was in.

If Crisafulli was smart, he would backtrack on the $120+ million QTC Tennyson venue expansion (blame Labor negotiated a change) and not dig in like Miles did on The Gabba and QSAC

Moving the tennis to the Australian Open venue in Melbourne is a no brainer to me.
A shame for tennis people in Brisbane but this makes sense in many ways.
Brisbane will have enough trouble finding venue staff/construction staff/accommodation for all the other Brisbane and reginal venues in the state. Then we have the roads and rail projects all needing workers to build them.
It is not like the rest of Australia will take a break in construction, just so Queensland will be able to find workers.
If Qld have too many projects under construction and not enough workers, the blowouts will be more than usual.

The Melbourne venue will put on a world class show as it does each year and it won't be in the boiling Melbourne summer.
They have the expertise to run a big event which is already in place.
No need for Brisbane to find construction staff, venue staff and volunteers.
Use the $120+ million elsewhere as it will be needed. The Gabba comes to mind but there are lots of others.

It really is as simple as give it to Melbourne and it is basically off their radar of possible problems they have to deal with.
Sure, Melbourne gets the benefit of tourism, but the SEQ area will likely not have enough accommodation for these Olympics anyhow. Part of another problem solved.

Crisafulli will have more than his share of Olympic problems to deal with, this just makes it much easier.

Regarding the rowing, that also makes sense and always has, but if it ends up at Rocky good luck to them.

 

[Perrip]

Dropping the Brisbane Arena from the Commonwealth funding and also moving it to the old GoPrint site that should be a lot cheaper to build.

Definitely, it sounds like there's a lot of interest to do the Gabba Arena + eventually masterplan a new Gabba precinct post-2032.

To date the Commonwealth agreement has not been changed and is still tied to the Brisbane Arena.
So, the commonwealth has $3.4 billion of funds Crisafulli still needs. If the Commonwealth (Albo) wants the tennis in Melbourne he has that lever to pull.

Reportedly, according to the Australian, Albo likes the new plan. But, businesses cases for the tennis center expansion could cause issues with the Feds.

Our spies tell us that the PM has now been persuaded over to the state plan to dump the arena as an Olympic venue and to reallocate the $2.5bn to other projects for the Games.
But, both the state and federal governments have said no formal agreement has yet been reached on the funding deal, which is capped at $7.1bn.
Negotiations are currently under way, with the feds demanding more detail and airtight business cases on parts of the plan.
We now hear that is where the concern is mounting.

Regarding the rowing, that also makes sense and always has, but if it ends up at Rocky good luck to them.

The Deputy Premier and an IOC official allegedly have already argued about rowing being held in Rocky lol

 

[Perrip]

Regarding the rowing, that also makes sense and always has, but if it ends up at Rocky good luck to them.

Frenchman heading to crocodile country to see if Olympic rowing should move to Sydney

Australia’s most influential Olympic figure, John Coates, has told The Courier-Mail World Rowing president Jean Christoph Rolland will head to Rockhampton in under three months to inspect the proposed site for the Games regatta.
While the Queensland government has already announced the Fitzroy River as the Olympics venue for rowing and flatwater canoeing, speculation is mounting that it will not pass technical assessments to be led by Rolland.
...
As the Queensland Government awaits the Rolland visit, the NSW Government announced on Sunday $4 million of improvements to the International Regatta Centre and Penrith Whitewater Stadium.
Mr Coates, the former long-serving Australian Olympic Committee president who is now an honorary member of the International Olympic Committee and on the board of the 2032 Brisbane Organising Committee, said Rolland was the key to ending any conjecture.
“The decision on Rockhampton will be taken by the international federation (World Rowing),” Mr Coates, also a former president of Rowing Australia, said. “Plans are in place for the president Jean Christoph to visit and have a look at what they’ve got to offer.
...
“The international federations are the experts in their respective sports. What they decide, the IOC will follow.”
...
A spokesman for NSW Sport Minister Steve Kamper added: “The 2032 Brisbane Olympics … we have no doubt it will be one of the best Olympics yet. The NSW Government would consider any hosting request on its merits, but this is a decision for Queensland.”

 

[Section 5]

Frenchman heading to crocodile country to see if Olympic rowing should move to Sydney

The Penrith Whitewater Stadium make financial sense too, but it will just be too cold there in Winter.
Hardly anyone is suggesting that option yet, although there is backlash in the Redlands community on maintaining the facility and loss of greenspace concerns
At least in rowing they don't need to be in the water unless celebrating.

 

[Johnny Bananas]

The Penrith Whitewater Stadium make financial sense too, but it will just be too cold there in Winter.

It's not like the water will freeze over or anything. If it's held in the middle of the day, Penrith still gets up to 18-20 degrees in early August.

 

[Section 5]

It's not like the water will freeze over or anything. If it's held in the middle of the day, Penrith still gets up to 18-20 degrees in early August.

Unlike rowing athletes do get wet and i doubt the water is heated like it has to be for the indoor swimming
Then the wind chill factor
Brisbane August 12-22C -Wind average 19.0 kph
Penrith August 6-20C - Wind 25.6 kph

As i said it makes sense financially but i doubt the IOC would approve it as the Olympics is all about the athletes according to them.

 

[Kernel Kurtz]

Penrith was suggested a while back for the white water events instead of building a facility in the Redlands that few people wanted.
But I thought the Birkdale/Thornside site was going ahead.
Or are these discisions still being finalised as yet.
Do we really need a white water rafting facility in Brisbane?
How much money is coming in from the IOC again.
lol.

 

[Perrip]

Penrith was suggested a while back for the white water events instead of building a facility in the Redlands that few people wanted.
But I thought the Birkdale/Thornside site was going ahead.
Or are these discisions still being finalised as yet.
Do we really need a white water rafting facility in Brisbane?

As far as we know at the moment, the whitewater site at Redlands is proceeding. Penrith is conaidered the backup option if Rockhampton can't host the rowing event

 

[Perrip]

Brisbane 2032 chief Stephen Conry: Why we have to get the Olympic and Paralympic Games right

“I’m not surprised any more about anyone’s views on the Games or the delivery. A very clear majority are supportive, happy and excited,” he said. “There are people out there saying they want to ‘save Victoria Park’. Frankly, the Olympics will save Victoria Park.
“Victoria Park is not like Central Park in New York and not like Hyde Park in London, where they have very well patronised central city greenspaces. Victoria Park is not widely known in Brisbane and less widely used. It is a beautiful piece of inner-city land that will, in seven years’ time, be utilised by hundreds of thousands of people a year compared to very few people now.”
It was a golfing range and a function centre and not much else. “The parklands are not well patronised, despite comments to the contrary,” Conry said.“When we have a world-leading stadium there, it will open up the parklands for use by hundreds of thousands of people a year, and how exciting is that? This nonsense I hear about lack of transport and access is just that, nonsense. The nonsense I hear about how much of the site will be taken up by the stadium is also nonsense. This latest figure I hear of 58 per cent of the grass being taken up by the stadium is nonsense. It is as ridiculous as the original criticisms we were facing about all the residential development that would accompany the stadium. That was never going to happen. We will build a world-leading stadium that will be enjoyed by people all year, not just for cricket and AFL but for other major events.”
Conry reminds Save Victoria Park protesters there was initial opposition to the development of the MCG for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. Yet it was a stunning success and is still one of the world’s great stadiums.
“When Brisbane Stadium arrives, they will love it,” he said. "When the reality hits, they will see the stadium takes up far less space than the ICB, which goes right through Victoria Park.Can you imagine Brisbane without the ICB? Of course, Brisbane needed it. Of course, Brisbane needs a new stadium, and Victoria Park is the place for it.’’
Conry said it was too early to say exactly where Brisbane Stadium would fit in the park.

 

[Section 5]

If the stadium was planned for say New Farm Park i would object to that as it is well utilized by the public.

Love this bit from Conry because it is so true.
“There are people out there saying they want to ‘save Victoria Park’. Frankly, the Olympics will save Victoria Park.

 

[MSB ROYS]

If the stadium was planned for say New Farm Park i would object to that as it is well utilized by the public.

Love this bit from Conry because it is so true.
“There are people out there saying they want to ‘save Victoria Park’. Frankly, the Olympics will save Victoria Park.

Agree, about New Farm Park re use etc. The traffic would be impossible. It really cant even cope with residents and visitors on a normal weekend.

Interestingly, the New Park land was a racecourse from 1846 to 1913, before it was purchased by the council.

 

[POBT]

Griffith Uni conducting a research survey into social and community impacts of the Vic Park Olympics decision.

Error

researchsurvey.griffith.edu.au

 

[briztoon]

Griffith Uni conducting a research survey into social and community impacts of the Vic Park Olympics decision.

Error

researchsurvey.griffith.edu.au

Not the University itself.

The survey is being conducted by an undergraduate student as part of their degree, and if I was to have a guess, the student falls into the NIMBY camp.

 

[POBT]

Not the University itself.

The survey is being conducted by an undergraduate student as part of their degree, and if I was to have a guess, the student falls into the NIMBY camp.

Lucky you clarified that.

For what it's worth, I did the survey. It doesn't ask for personal information other than age bracket, cultural identity and postcode. It took less than 10 minutes - was good to hopefully help balance out an obviously biased perspective.

 

[Perrip]

Not the University itself.

The survey is being conducted by an undergraduate student as part of their degree, and if I was to have a guess, the student falls into the NIMBY camp.

Can't speak for the student but the professor advising the honours project is quite open about being a Greens supporter.

 

[M Malice]

I did the survey as well, the way the questions are slanted particularly early it is obvious the student is a NIMBY.

 

[Perrip]