The region’s government and business leaders have explored how the Sunshine Coast can play to its strengths when the 2032 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games come to town.
The Combined Government & Business Forum – hosted annually by the Sunshine Coast Business Council – was attended by federal and state members, regional councillors and representatives from some of the most influential businesses and largest employers in the region.
The Sunshine Coast will be home to four key venues and several sporting events during the Games, including football, basketball, marathon, mountain biking, cycling and kiteboarding.
The region will also host multiple days of road-based events (marathon and road cycling) during the Paralympic Games.
An independent economic assessment has indicated the Games will deliver a benefit of $8.1 billion for Queensland, while creating 91,600 full time equivalent jobs.
Sunshine Coast Business Council Chair Sandy Zubrinich said the forum, held at USC’s Innovation Centre, was of particular importance this year, given the task that lay ahead in planning for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“While 11 years may sound like a long time, it really isn’t when it comes to planning for and building the major infrastructure it will take to both host the actual events and also to efficiently get people into the region and moving around within the region once the Games commence,” Ms Zubrinich said.
“The past decade has been a positive one of growth for the Sunshine Coast region with significant investment into the airport, the new hospital and the start of the Maroochydore CBD development and subsequent partnership with Walker Corporation to master plan, build and develop the site.
“We’ve also relied heavily on private sector investment delivering significant projects such as the expansion of Sunshine Plaza and Kawana Shopping World and major residential developments such as Aura, Harmony, Birtinya and Bokarina Beach.
“Now, thanks to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games announcement and Sunshine Coast Council’s role as a delivery partner, we are well positioned to capitalise on yet another positive decade.
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“In order to do so, however, we will need to work quickly and collaboratively to deliver a strategic road map that identifies the infrastructure and investment required over the next 11 years, and harnesses a united commitment from all levels of government, the private sector and the community to make it a reality.”
The forum provided “an opportunity to delve further into the opportunities the Games present and how, as a region, we can best capitalise on them.”
“Our annual Combined Government and Business Forum is always very well attended and we expect robust discussion to be undertaken in the spirit intended – energetic, challenged and debated.”
The forum included presentations by Ted O’Brien MP, Andrew Wallace MP, Mayors Mark Jamieson and Clare Stewart, as well as Cr Rick Baberowski, Murray McCarthy from Walker Corporation, Andrew Brodie from Sunshine Coast Airport and James Ruprai from Sunshine Coast Council. There were also Q&A sessions as part of the agenda.
