Brisbane announces its controversial list of Olympics venues – and one of them is ALREADY being picketed by protesters

Protestors have already vowed to launch legal action and have begun picketing Olympic venues in Brisbane after the Queensland Government made a sensational backflip on Tuesday. 

After some false starts, the race to the Brisbane 2032 Games is underway with the Olympic venue plan finally unveiled.

A 60,000-seat main stadium in Brisbane’s Victoria Park has been confirmed as the centrepiece after the Queensland government revealed long awaited infrastructure following a 100-day review.

It comes after Queensland Premier David Crisafulli backflipped on his pre-election promise that no new stadiums would be built.

‘The time has come to just get on with it,’ The Premier said.

Big winners include swimming with the inner city Centenary Pool to be transformed into a 25,000-seat national aquatic centre near the main stadium, ditching initial plans to host the sport in a drop-in pool.

The Brisbane Showgrounds will also get a facelift with a 20,000-seat stadium planned next to a relocated main athletes village.

Hockey will also be happy, with the sport to be held on the Gold Coast at a revamped 2018 Commonwealth Games venue instead of Brisbane’s Ballymore rugby field.

Not everybody is happy that the plans are finalised, though.

Thousands have taken to social media to blast the decision to host the Olympics and the new plan.

Meanwhile Brisbane City Councillor for Paddington Ward Seal Chong Wah has led a group of protestors calling themselves the Save Vic Park group to begin picketing the announcement immediately.

‘This is an anti-community decision by a group of arrogant and uncaring politicians and greedy developers who have been behind this plan all along. It is an uncaring State Government reneging on their election pledge,’ Cr Wah said.

‘It is also breaking a very clear agreement between the Host and the IOC that new venues will not be built on cultural heritage locations.’

Protestors oppose building the 60,000-seat Olympic stadium at Victoria Park, Brisbane, due to environmental, cultural and political concerns.

Victoria Park, also known by its Turrbal name of Barrambin, is a heritage-listed park located in Spring Hill near the Brisbane CBD that has significant Indigenous cultural heritage which protestors fear will be lost.

‘Victoria Park is such a special place, but the threat of losing it to a concrete monster stadium is very real. Stand with us to save it – take action now,’ the Save Victoria Park group posted.

Thousands of locals have also taken to social media to oppose the loss of a major inner-city green space and recreation reserve.

‘Let’s protest leave Victoria park alone,’ one posted.

‘Absolute disgrace. They had all of SEQ to build the stadium and now the wonderful legacy to the city that was Victoria Park is being destroyed.’ fumed another.

‘Cancel the games, more urgent things to spend the money on,’ posted yet another.

Many others have questioned why the stadium will only hold 60,000, when the nearby Suncorp Stadium already holds 55,000.

Suncorp Stadium is rectangular and unsuitable for the Olympics, but locals have questioned what the new stadium will be used for when the Olympics are finished.

‘If building a new stadium why not for 80 to 100,000 to be able to use it for future large events concerts etc. Be practical,’ one local posted.

Football/soccer fans have also been left angry that matches will not be held in Brisbane at all.

Pool matches will be held in regional cities including Townsville and Cairns, with Suncorp Stadium to host the finals.

‘So the most popular sport on the planet – and the biggest driver of Olympic ticket sales – won’t be played in the host city?’ asked one football fan.

‘Australia getting football wrong again,’ added another.

Despite the outrage, there was plenty of local support for the Olympic plan.

‘It’s progress and it will attract more events, sports, concerts as well as jobs. Great choice,’ one happy Olympics fan posted.

Another said: ‘A new stadium is needed. I believe he made the right call for the long term benefits of Brisbane.’

However the plan did not feature a proposed Commonwealth-backed Brisbane Arena in the CBD, with the Queensland government saying allocated federal funding would be used elsewhere.

The Queensland government and the Commonwealth had agreed to a $7.1billion funding envelope for venues split 50-50, with $2.5billion federal dollars allocated to the Brisbane Arena.

The Brisbane Games are set to also mark the ‘swansong’ for traditional cricket and AFL home, the Gabba, which will become an entertainment hub post-2032.

The clock is ticking for organisers with a venue plan finally confirmed almost four years since Brisbane was named Olympic host.

Mr Crisafulli made the announcement on Tuesday after initially promising no new stadiums would be built when the Liberal National Party won the 2024 election and ordered the review, producing the third 2032 venue plan in four years.

Football will be hosted in Cairns in the state’s far north after the sport’s national body called for a permanent 30,000-seat stadium, preferably at Brisbane’s Perry Park.

Rowing may be concerned by confirmation the sport would be hosted in central Queensland’s Fitzroy River in crocodile country following reports it may not meet international standards.

Brisbane’s Queensland Tennis Centre is set to receive a major update reportedly worth $113million to host the sport, avoiding mooted plans to relocate it to Melbourne in 2032.

Equestrian events have been moved to Toowoomba and sailing relocated from Moreton Bay up to north Queensland, with Townsville and the Whitsundays hosting.