The Queensland government has announced record spending in planning and infrastructure for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.
This includes $7.1 billion over the next four years which is on top of a $4.7 billion allocation in the 2025-26 budget for the 2032 Delivery Plan.
It will be used to fund venues, athlete villages, and grassroots sports infrastructure through the "Games On!" program, which will receive an additional $250 million.
A further $847 million will fund the immediate delivery of five Games venues including Kawana’s Sunshine Coast Stadium.
Earlier this year the government released its 2032 Delivery Plan which includes a new stadium with the ability to seat 63,000 spectators.
Located centrally in Brisbane, Victoria Park offers a unique opportunity to develop a world-class stadium which will showcase Brisbane on the global stage. Its inner-city location, city views, and ability to integrate within a master-planned park make it an unparalleled choice for an iconic sporting and entertainment venue.
This new world-class venue will help put Brisbane and Queensland on the map for showcasing major events and talent, well beyond the delivery of the Games, and provides the opportunity to increase the economic and social prosperity of Queensland through increased major event tourism opportunities.
Another important venue is the national aquatic centre and precinct which will be developed at the existing Centenary Pool site in Spring Hill.
Designed as a national hub for Australia’s four peak aquatic sports, the National Aquatic Centre will feature a main and secondary stadium, each with large indoor pools to support elite training and competition.
The venue will expand to a capacity of more than 25,000 for the Games using temporary seating, surpassing the capacity of La Defense Arena, the swimming venue for the Paris 2024 Games.
The National Aquatic Centre will host the majority of aquatic sports in 2032, supported by the Brisbane Aquatic Centre (Chandler) which will undergo necessary upgrades.
Beyond the Games, the National Aquatic Centre will provide a world-class legacy facility with a permanent capacity of 8,000 seats, delivering long-term benefits for Australia’s aquatic sports community.
The athlete’s village will be located at the Brisbane Showgrounds which is synonymous with events, and is the landmark destination for the Brisbane Ekka each year.
Sitting within 1.5km from the Brisbane CBD and with close connection to public transport and major road arterials, the Brisbane Showgrounds will be transformed to host the main Athlete Village for the Games.
The Brisbane Athlete Village will house more than 10,000 athletes and team officials for the Olympics and more than 5,000 for the Paralympics.
The Sunshine Coast Athlete Village will be located within the Maroochydore City Centre. The CBD will be transformed with a new integrated Athlete Village, arena and cultural precinct.
Real estate thrives
The Games are also fuelling strong momentum in the city’s commercial real estate sector.
A Colliers report revealed a surge in demand for premium buildings from professional services, technology, engineering, and consulting sectors which is driving up rents by seven per cent annually, a growth not seen since 2008.
The next A-grade building scheduled to enter the market is a project in North Quay, which is near completion and also fully committed.
205 North Quay is a $600 million development planned to become the first commercial building in Australia to offer tenants a holistic work-life approach.
Designed by Brisbane-based architecture firms Richards & Spence, Hassell, along with New York-based REX, 205 North Quay will offer world-class amenities, including a whole-floor wellness facility, 25-metre lap pool, a 210 seat public realm auditorium, outdoor terraces on every level, and rooftop collaboration and celebration facilities.
205 North Quay is targeting a 6 Green Star rating and 5.5 star NABERS Energy rating. As part of this goal, Hassell, REX and Richards & Spence’s contemporary design for the tower will efficiently reduce energy, waste and water usage, control midday, afternoon and early evening sun through a highly articulated façade.
ARBSQLD will be held at the Brisbane Convention Centre from 27-28 August, 2025.