The infrastructure authority for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Video games is pushing the Queensland authorities to droop regular procurement guidelines and think about particular planning legal guidelines to fast-track the approval and development of controversial new venues.
The Queensland authorities introduced its venues plan for the Olympics on Tuesday, together with plans to construct a brand new stadium within the heritage-listed Victoria Park, Brisbane’s largest inner-city parkland.
The plan – the third model in 4 years since Brisbane was awarded the video games in 2021 – was beneficial after a 100-day evaluate by the Video games Impartial Infrastructure and Coordination Authority.
It was bought to the general public on Tuesday as a “final” plan that required urgency.
“The time has come to just get on with it,” the premier, David Crisafulli, has mentioned.
There was important public opposition to plans to develop Victoria Park, together with from neighborhood leaders and even the previous LNP premier Campbell Newman.
The group Save Victoria Park says it has briefed barristers and will launch a authorized problem to guard the location.
The 100-day evaluate report famous neighborhood issues and First Nations cultural heritage concerns that might create points at Victoria Park. It beneficial the stadium proceed and argued that “special legislation” would possible be required to approve Olympics venues.
“It is essential that infrastructure is delivered on time for the hosting of a successful Games and to comply with the Olympic host contract,” the evaluate mentioned.
“This imperative is likely to necessitate GIICA being able to use streamlined development processes where required.
“This is to ensure that planning and other approval requirements are obtained in a timely and efficient manner, as is typically expected of major projects of state significance.
“It also may be necessary in the future to consider amendments to the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games Arrangements Act (or other special legislation) to ensure the timely delivery of these major projects.”
Sue Bremner, the spokesperson for Save Victoria Park, mentioned the push to construct a stadium on the website had been “like the return of the white shoe brigade” – a time period used within the Nineteen Eighties to explain property builders who exerted affect in the course of the Bjelke-Petersen authorities.
“It’s a bold land grab of heritage land,” Bremner mentioned.
Requested on Tuesday if the state authorities would introduce particular planning laws to go off a lawsuit, Crisafulli informed reporters: “I am very, very confident we can get this done.”
The 100-day evaluate additionally steered that Queensland authorities processes for delivering main tasks, and the state’s normal procurement guidelines, would should be put aside on a case-by-case foundation.
“As projects move through the stages of the procurement process it is critical that every effort is made to fast-track the delivery of the infrastructure and venues,” the evaluate mentioned.
“The significant delays caused by years of uncertainty have seen substantial cost escalation due to the current market conditions and now time constraints. Any further delay will only see costs continue to escalate, whilst further exacerbating program risks.
“[Queensland’s] traditional contracting model does not enable GIICA the capacity to address current market constraints, complexity, or time sensitivities of the quantum of infrastructure to be delivered.
“GIICA needs the flexibility to adopt alternative models and innovative procurement approaches where required to manage on time and on budget delivery and will work with the Queensland government on exemptions on a case-by-case basis.”
The evaluate mentioned “critical actions” – together with altering planning and procurement processes – for the Olympics “underpinned by a steadfast commitment to ethical processes”.
Crisafulli has vowed that the complete finances for Olympics venues – together with commonwealth and personal cash – can be inside its unique $7.1bn funding dedication, no matter price enhance.
Transport and “associated precinct” prices will not be included and can price “many billions of dollars”, the premier mentioned.
– With reporting by Andrew Messenger
