Victoria Park will be totally closed off to the public in less than 10 weeks, with Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie confirming at a business lunch that the park would be fenced off until 2032.
Bleijie was met by Save Victoria Park protesters before his Queensland Media Club address at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre at South Brisbane on Wednesday.
Inside, Bleijie acknowledged them as he concluded a Q&A session to round out a speech marking one year since the Crisafulli government’s 2032 delivery plan was released.
“I met some friends on the way in – I don’t know if you saw some placards, and people with placards – anyway, they won’t be happy,” he said.
“Because on 1 June, the entire Victoria Park is going to be fenced.”
Bleijie said workers would be on site almost immediately, scouring the terrain to prepare for the 63,000-seat stadium’s construction.
“You’re going to see bulldozers, you’re going to see excavators,” he said.
“And unfortunately, it will not be able to be used between 1 June and 2032 – we’ve got to build a 63,000 seat stadium.”
Bleijie confirmed the Brisbane Stadium would be located at the Gilchrist Avenue end of Victoria Park, with an east-west orientation, and a field of play a size and shape equivalent to the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
“The many reasons why include easy access from public transport and for pedestrians, the site’s topography, the usable open space around the stadium and the sun path and the wind speed – which we had to take into account, by the way, for cricket,” he said.
As to whether it would have a drop-in or permanent wicket, Bleijie was none the wiser and played off his sporting ignorance to the laughing crowd.
“Out of all the people in the Crisafulli government to ask that sort of question, I am the wrong person to ask,” he said.
“It’s going to be, like, MCG-style but it’s going to be better. What’s better, a soft one or a hard one?”
One group not laughing was Save Victoria Park spokesperson Rosemary O’Hagan. She said Bleijie saying the stadium would be built “down near Gilchrist Avenue” was meaningless.
“June 1 will not be the start of the stadium build – this is a public relations stunt to give the false impression the Crisafulli government is getting on with it,” she said.
“We don’t buy it. Where are the results of the geotechnical studies conducted late last year? Where are the project validation reports confirming this massive new Olympic precinct is even viable?”
O’Hagan said there had not been community consultation, nor an announcement of civil works contractors.
“The deputy premier wants to launch his public relations exercise before all of these crucial steps. This is a cynical move that shows complete disregard for the community,” she said.
“The fight is not over to save the park, and the government knows it.”
The National Aquatic Centre was also planned to be built at Victoria Park, adjacent to the existing Centenary Pool.
“Watch this space,” Bleijie said of the NAC.
“Our principal architect [is] to be awarded next month and GIICA will take over that site, at the old Centenary Pool, in September this year and start early works.”
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