It’s full steam ahead for construction of venues to be used for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games with an industry briefing with more than 70 businesses being held today, ahead of the first EOIs for tenders being released Monday (20 May).
Thorough assessments have been completed on the Chandler Sports Precinct (also known as the Sleeman Sports Complex) and three Sunshine Coast venues, paving the way for the procurement process to begin.
The Australian and Queensland governments have jointly allocated funding from the $1.87 billion Minor Venues Program for investment in these projects.
Queensland Minister for State Development and Infrastructure Grace Grace, Federal Senator and Assistant Minister for Regional Development Anthony Chisholm, Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli, Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee President Andrew Liveris, Member for Caloundra Jason Hunt, and Member for Nicklin Rob Skelton today visited the Kawana Sports Precinct where a new $142 million indoor sports centre will be built, and the adjacent Sunshine Coast Stadium will receive a $148 million upgrade.
The Chandler Sports Precinct and Sunshine Coast Mountain Bike Centre and are also in line for multimillion dollar upgrades of $257 million and $14 million respectively.
The Q2032 Procurement Strategy will prioritise local businesses so they have the best chance to supply for projects which will support more than 1,000 jobs, with the first contracts due to be awarded later this year. Early works on the Sunshine Coast Stadium will begin in late 2024, with other construction due to begin in 2025.
This means that – still more than eight years out from the Games – a quarter of the $1.87 billion Minor Venues Program will be out in the market in the coming months, and with further projects close to investment decision almost half are due out by the end of 2024.
The Queensland and Australian Governments have committed to sourcing at least 30% of procurement from Queensland SMEs for the Minor Venues Program, as well as targets for 10-15% of all the hours on the projects to be undertaken by apprentices or trainees – helping to deliver the pipeline of construction workers our growing state needs.
The final project scopes and locations were selected following a vigorous Project Validation Report process, have been endorsed by national, state, and local governments, and were recommended to proceed in the recent independent Sport Venue Review.
Communities right across Queensland are set to benefit from the Games, with events to be held in a range of locations including in Cairns, Townsville, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands and the Gold Coast.
