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Woolloongabba to become city’s second CBD under new stadium deal
By Tony Moore
The future design of the Gabba will be finalised and put to tender this year, the Queensland government confirmed on Friday, paving the way for the stadium to become the focal point of Brisbane’s next CBD.
If all goes to plan, by 2030 Woolloongabba will have an underground rail station, Metro bus station, new retail hub and more unit towers, servicing a state-of-the-art stadium seating 50,000 people.
An artist’s impression of the new Gabba stadium and concourse, with walkway to the Cross River Rail and Metro stations to the left.
After the successful design is chosen and construction contracts finalised, work on the stadium is expected to start in 2026 and be done within four years.
The transformation of the suburb will be completed with new pedestrian and cycle links to South Bank, the CBD and beyond.
“The 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games will change Brisbane the way Expo 88 did,” Deputy Premier Steven Miles said.
“It is fitting that we will extend the much-loved South Bank precinct to the Gabba and back to the city via the (Botanic) Gardens.
Early planning work for the new Woolloongabba.
“You will be able to get around without a car and walk and scooter to the city or South Bank.”
Despite costs on the stadium already blowing out by $1.7 billion, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said there would not be an Olympics infrastructure agency to manage the building program.
“My understanding is that it is through the two departments under the agreement. So, it is the prime minister’s relevant department and the Department of State Development.”
The new-look Gabba will have a concourse to a Cross River Rail station and future Brisbane Metro station, via a bridge over Woolloongabba’s Main Street.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk after signing the Olympics funding deal on Friday.Credit: AAP
Brisbane Times has been told the stadium will not require a concourse over Vulture or Stanley streets, despite the confined nature of the site.
The current East Brisbane State School - which adjoins the stadium - will be closed after December 2025 and a new school - named East Brisbane State School - will be built for the community, most likely at the nearby 11-hectare Coorparoo State Secondary College.
The heritage buildings facing Wellington Road will be integrated into the new stadium.
Consultation with the Brisbane Lions AFL team has begun about a temporary relocation from 2026.
A larger Priority Development Area will be declared at the Gabba, likely to include a new busway connection.
Albanese said the $7 billion agreement between his government and the Queensland government provided certainty.
“When there was a change of government it became very clear that there had not been any money actually allocated in the budget for federal infrastructure support for the Games here in Queensland,” Albanese said.
“That is why we had to step up.”
Brisbane 2032 Games organising committee president Andrew Liveris welcomed the agreement, saying it allowed critical work to begin.
“More than $17.61 billion is expected to be generated in economic and social benefits across
Australia through the delivery of Brisbane’s 2032 Games.”
Miles was expected to detail further plans for Woolloongabba on Saturday.