Why no stadiums in Victoria Park
Sacred Land
The Turrbal and Yuggera people are the Traditional Custodians of Barrambin, a site of deep cultural and spiritual significance for the Yuggera and Turrbal peoples of Brisbane, also known as Meanjin. Barrambin was historically a vital meeting and gathering place for the Yuggera, a place for hunting, gathering, and corroborees, and remains tied to their stories and traditions.
Let’s respect the traditional owners of Barrambin.
World-class cities need a world-class park
Only cities without a vision for a better future for its residents destroy inner-city scarce green spaces. Greenspaces have proven health benefits; they cool our cities and mitigate climate change. The animals, plants and trees are the legacy, not concrete, steel and glass. Brisbane has a masterplan that converts Victoria Park Barrambin in a world-class park.
Billions of dollars wasted
Billions of dollars of precious taxpayers’ money will be wasted. These debts will take decades to pay off. Investments in essential services will be delayed or cancelled. Victoria Park is the most expensive site from all the proposed sites due to its very challenging topography and difficult road access due to the Royal Brisbane Hospital. Would it not be better to build hospitals, public housing, roads, and help with the cost of living?
Sustainability policies through the window
Sports’ global emissions are on par with a country like Spain. Los Angeles 2028 has adopted a “radical reuse” approach to the Games, meaning it won’t need a single new permanent venue to be built.
The IOC publicly promotes its “New Norm” framework, promising “Carbon Positive Games,” maximum use of existing venues, and the avoidance of culturally sensitive areas. The Olympic Host Contract Operational Requirements explicitly state:
- Clause VEN 08: The Host must “Ensure no permanent Olympic or Paralympic construction occurs in statutory nature areas, cultural protected areas and World Heritage sites” and must “Maintain conservation status for any natural or cultural protected areas utilised”.
- Clause VEN 09: If a venue is proposed near a protected cultural area, an independent assessment of impacts must be undertaken and submitted to the IOC for approval.
Despite these binding rules, the IOC is applying a well-rehearsed playbook of “soft oversight” and “strategic ambiguity”. The IOC has allowed the Host City to ignore these clauses, hiding behind terms like “flexibility” and “local decision-making” while a sacred site is bulldozed.
Promises broken, laws cancelled
Mr. Crissafuli election promise of ‘No New Stadium in Victoria Park’ has been broken. Furthermore, the QLD Government cancelled 15 Planning Laws such as Environmental Protection Act, the Planning Act, the Queensland Heritage Act, the Local Government Act, and the Nature Conservation Act. These laws protect its citizens from harm, they protect its citizens from abuse by individuals, companies and governments alike. These laws are gone now, so the stadiums can be fast tracked without scrutiny or due diligence. In the darkness democracy dies
Other reasons
Furthermore, there are a huge number of technical reasons as to why Victoria Park is not suitable. Its topography makes building there extremely expensive and difficult. The architectural design companies will experience this soon. Secondly, there is not enough labour to build the stadiums on time. And thirdly, there will be legal challenges that can further delay the construction. The QLD and Federal governments risk being embarrassed on the world stage. The IOC could end up with inferior games to the dismay of the athletes and fans alike. The government thinks this is ‘a walk in the Park’ but it will be far from that.
For comprehensive Myth Busting arguments against the building of stadia in Victoria Park go to Gameswatchdog2032
For donations go to the Gofund page from Save Victoria Park: Savevictoriapark