‘We need these facilities’: Council’s Games plea
Sunshine Coast Council has made a strong submission to the Queensland Government’s 100 day review of Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games infrastructure, urging the retention of venues and events promised for our region.
As a co-host city, the Sunshine Coast is earmarked for a range of infrastructure including a new mountain bike centre, upgraded stadium, new indoor sports centre, athletes’ village as well as nine Olympic and Paralympic events in 2032.
Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said the submission called for the Olympic and Paralympic events and venues currently slated for the Sunshine Coast in the Brisbane 2032 Master Plan, to be retained.
“While the State Government must ensure their investment into Games infrastructure is right, the project validation process we have already followed to get the go ahead from all levels of government for our three competition venues was extremely rigorous.” Mayor Natoli said.
“It demonstrated profound social and economic benefits for our community, outside hosting the Games. These are facilities our community needs.
“Each venue has been in the pipeline for many years - long before the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2032 was awarded to Brisbane - and stand to benefit our region long after the Games take place.
“The venues will increase participation in grass roots sports and recreation across the region, provide world-class competition and training facilities for our local athletes, and will have capacity to host major sporting events, attracting more tourism dollars for our local industries.”
Council’s submission advocated to retain the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic events and associated temporary venues, currently proposed for the Sunshine Coast in the Brisbane 2032 Games Master Plan.
The events include Olympic basketball, football, kiteboarding, road-based cycling, mountain biking, marathon and race walk, and the Paralympic marathon and road-based cycling events during the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“Each of our venues, including our temporary venues, is critical in delivering the positive legacy we had planned to achieve as a result of our role in attracting and hosting the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Mayor Natoli said.
“Funding for our region’s much-needed transport infrastructure, including the delivery of a rail line to Maroochydore by 2032, is also intrinsically linked to our Olympic venues and the role we will play in hosting the Games.”
The Games’ Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority is conducting the 100 day review under the direction of a newly appointed seven-person Board.
The review will identify the infrastructure required to fulfill the Games’ vision while aligning with long-term planning, budget priorities and legacy objectives.
Consultation for the review closed on January 10, 2025.