The Sunshine Coast mayor has urged the state government to stand by plans for Olympic venues in the region, amid a 100-day review of proposed facilities.
Council has made a submission to officials, urging the retention of facilities and events that were earmarked for the region but are now being reassessed by a Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority.
The planned facilities include a new indoor sports centre, an upgraded stadium, a new mountain bike centre and an athletes’ village.
But it was revealed last month that at least two of the sports venues would cost significantly more than expected and it was revealed this month that the athletes’ village also faced extra costs.
Council stated last month how important the facilities would be to the region.
Now, mayor Rosanna Natoli has renewed an appeal for the venues to be built.
“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,” she 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.”
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Council’s submission advocated to retain the events and associated venues 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.
“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,” Cr 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.
The group’s chairman Stephen Conry said the review would help “ensure we are building the right infrastructure in the right place”.
He said the terms of reference for the review ensured it would evaluate demand, affordability, deliverability and overall impact to maximise social, economic and environmental outcomes.
“The review will identify the infrastructure required to fulfill the Games’ vision while aligning with long-term planning for our growing city and state,” he said.
“It will also prioritise key infrastructure, assess connectivity, and ensure integration across venues, transport projects and athlete’s villages.”
