The clock’s ticking

This week marks six years until the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. I’m starting to feel a bit tight around the collar over the race to be ready, with seven new venues still to be built and another 10 to be upgraded.

Yet I still believe this could be the best thing that’s ever happened to our great city, or the worst if organisers can’t get their act together. The clock is well and truly ticking, in the form of an official countdown timer recently unveiled in Queen Street Mall.

Architects for the National Aquatic Centre have now also been locked in, with ARM Architecture and NH Architecture, in partnership with Queensland’s Arkhefield, to deliver an iconic swimming and water sports centre on the site of the old Centenary Pool in the Victoria Park precinct. The procurement process to select the National Aquatic Centre’s builder is underway, and four building contractors have been shortlisted to submit offers, with submissions closing at the end of this month.

GIICA Chairman Stephen Conry AM chaired the Design Evaluation Panel and said the quality of the design submissions had been outstanding.

“Ultimately, it was ARM Architecture, NH Architecture and Arkhefield’s design for a centre inspired by the movement of water, cleverly positioned within the landscape, that we felt best reflected the natural beauty of Brisbane,” Mr Conry said.

“GIICA is committed to delivering transformational infrastructure that will benefit Queenslanders for generations, and I am confident the National Aquatic Centre and new Brisbane Stadium in Victoria Park will be outstanding landmarks for our city and among our most popular public spaces.”

There’s an opportunity for the positives to overwhelm the negatives when it comes to hosting an event on this scale. You’ll find them in the big moments, but also in the ripple effects, like Brisbane City Council’s “legacy vision”, which identifies 21 key initiatives, including delivering 50,000 new homes before 2032, increasing green and community spaces near major infrastructure, and expanding our public transport network.

I only hope the majority of Queenslanders embrace what could be the most spectacular moment in our history because, if they don’t, it could all fall incredibly flat.

I hope you enjoy the read.

Matt Lancashire