Games village no longer earmarked for social housing

The main athletes' village being built on Brisbane River will no longer be used ahead of the Games. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

The keys to a major Brisbane 2032 athletes' village won't be handed to the homeless ahead of the Games after a Queensland government backflip.

Construction of Brisbane Olympic villages had been fast tracked after the state government announced they would be used to help ease the housing crisis pre-Games.

At least 2000 dwellings will be built for Olympic athletes at Hamilton in Brisbane's north with other villages on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.

OLYMPIC ATHLETES VILLAGE BRISBANE 2032
At least 2000 dwellings will be built for Olympic athletes in Brisbane's north.

The main village at Hamilton looks set to be kept in pristine condition for the athletes, barely a year since the state government announced it would be offered for temporary accommodation.

"We are currently not planning to use the constructed dwellings for temporary accommodation to then transfer into Games mode to then transfer into permanent mode," Economic Development Queensland general manager Debbie McNamara told a hearing on Wednesday.

There were plans instead to bring forward alternate land for social and affordable housing, Ms McNamara said.

She did not confirm or deny whether the Hamilton village would lie vacant ahead of the Games.

OLYMPIC ATHLETES VILLAGE BRISBANE 2032
Athletes' villages will also be built on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.

Housing is a key issue ahead of Queensland's October election with the state government planning to build one million homes by 2046, including 53,500 social homes.

Brisbane 2032 infrastructure has also been a hot topic after the government ignored an independent review's recommendation to build a new $3.4 billion stadium.

It instead opted to revamp ageing facilities including a $1.6 billion facelift for the 49-year-old Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre.

The government revealed costing still had not been completed for the site.

"We are going through the project validation case," Infrastructure Minister Grace Grace said.

The business case may change the initial $1.6 billion price tag, State Development Department director-general Graham Fraine conceded.

"There has not been any further updated cost, that is the work that will be undertaken during the course of doing the project validation report," he said.

Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie claimed the plan remained speculative without a finished business case.

He asked Ms Grace whether Queenslanders should be embarrassed by the government's handling of the Games.

"We will never be embarrassed ... I do not believe Queensland is embarrassed," she said.

Queensland government Gabba plan
The Queensland government proposed a $1 billion plan to expand and redevelop the Gabba.

A proposed Gabba rebuild was also raised after a senior bureaucrat revealed the abandoned project's initial $1 billion price tag was not based on analysis.

Former premier Annastacia Palaszczuk spruiked the $1 billion cost during their Games bid.

Department of Premier and Cabinet director-general Mike Kaiser said a business case had not been completed to back that price.

"A $1 billion cost for the Gabba ... was not based on any analysis at all," he told the hearing.

Mr Kaiser said investigations later found the "value for money" cost for the rebuild would be $2.7 billion.

The Gabba rebuild has been scrapped but the venue will undergo a minor upgrade before it hosts the Olympic opening and closing ceremonies.

Olympic upgrades for the Gabba as well as Suncorp Stadium have not been fully costed.

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store