THE Brisbane Lions are in high-level negotiations for a multicultural joint venture at the airport that could finally see a breakthrough in their search for new headquarters.
The Lions have shelved all other options and are committed to securing the crown land at the airport for their training and administration base.
The club are looking to form a partnership with Government funded non-profit organisation MDA, the State’s largest migrant settlement agency.
MDA has a $35m funding agreement with the Federal Government that expires in 2020 but they are in need of new premises near the airport.
It is understood the Government will make land available for a sporting and multicultural precinct if MDA and the Lions can form a partnership.
It is a similar model to that employed by the North Melbourne Kangaroos for their Arden Street redevelopment.
The AFL have committed $5m to the construction of a new base.
AFLQ have an existing relationship with MDA and are heavily involved in the project. The facility has the potential to be an NEAFL (state league) venue.
There is also the prospect of Local Government funding for a synthetic training facility at the venue.
Brisbane Lions CEO Greg Swann will this week meet with representatives from both the State and Federal Governments as Brisbane City Council.
“Maybe at the end of the week we might have made some progress,’’ he said.
“The airport is definitely our preferred option.’’
The Lions have learnt from the mistakes of the previous regime and are lobbying both sides of politics.
Former chairman Angus Johnson had a promise of funding from the Rudd Government to move to Springfield. However, when Rudd was swept out of office, the Lions were left with nothing.
Federal opposition leader Bill Shorten was a guest at the Gabba on Saturday night to watch his side Collingwood thump the Lions by 78 points.
The AFL had attempted to push the Lions to Burpengary, where the Moreton Bay City Council in 2014 offered them an Aussie rules precinct, exclusive access to a new aquatic centre and $10m for the construction of an administration centre.
However, Brisbane have maintained a move that far away from the city centre would destroy the club.
The proposal to relocate to Logan City has also been shelved in favour of the airport.
Logan City Council had proposed the Lions use a 10ha parcel of land that had been earmarked for a greyhound track but was scrapped after the live baiting scandal that led to sacking of the Racing Queensland board.