The Queensland government has released new concept images for a parkland precinct to surround the 2032 Olympic stadium, as it seeks to quell concern at the loss of Brisbane’s largest inner-city parkland.
But opponents of the plans – now entering the early construction phase – to build a stadium at Brisbane’s Victoria Park say the concept images are a “fantasy vision” with no detail, and which overlook the likely need for carparks, roads, transport links and plazas to accommodate large crowds.
The government says its plan will retain two-thirds of Victoria Park as green space, after the construction of an oval-shaped 63,000-seat stadium, and a new national aquatic centre.
The draft precinct plan and concept images show two pedestrian bridges, built over the Brisbane inner-city bypass, a road which severs most of the parkland site from Spring Hill and the Brisbane CBD.
It also proposes flooding space occupied by football fields to expand the York’s Hollow wetland at the site, and building a public amphitheatre near the stadium.
“This state-shaping precinct is about legacy – unlocking a world-class free precinct that Queenslanders will enjoy for generations, long after the flame is extinguished,” the premier, David Crisafulli, said on Sunday.
“Just as South Bank defined a city as the gift for Expo ‘88, Victoria Park will be the legacy of 2032 – a place that belongs to Queenslanders once the games have gone.”
The government’s draft legacy plan emphasised the retention of green space and that Victoria Park would be more accessible than it is today.
The heritage-listed parkland, known as Barrambin by traditional owners, has been a controversial choice as the main stadium for the 2032 Olympics. It has long been underutilised and hosted a golf course until a few years ago.
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In addition to local concerns about the loss of parkland, and concerns by First Nations people about damage to a culturally significant site, Victoria Park also comes with logistical and geographical issues.
Critics of the state’s plans said the plans appeared only designed to present a “fantasy vision” of how the park might be redeveloped, but that these seemed not to take several factors into account.
Save Victoria Park spokesperson Sue Bremner said the “misleading” impressions were an attempt to distract from Olympics budget blowouts.
“We have said time and time again – it is one of the most complex, expensive and poorly connected sites in Brisbane to build sporting venues,” Bremner said.
“What we saw today was not a plan. It was another insulting fantasy vision with no details.
“Where are the car parks? Where are the roads? Where’s the connection to the train station? Where are the crowd-holding plazas? The ramp from the [bypass]?”
“The time for empty slogans, greenwashed architect impressions and budget lowballing is over.”
