The independent review of Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic venue infrastructure is out and the proposed Toowoomba Sports Ground upgrade will not proceed.
The review findings and recommendation
The official findings from the review panel are stated verbatim as –
“There is minimal identified legacy resulting from the proposed upgrades to the Toowoomba Sports Ground and it is unclear what additional content would be attracted to Toowoomba as a result of an upgrade.”
Under the Brisbane 2032 Master Plan, the Toowoomba Sports Ground, also known as Clive Berghofer Stadium, is slated to host football preliminaries with 15,000 spectator seats, 10,000 of which are temporary.
Proposed upgrades include modern facilities and increased permanent seating from 2,400 to 5,000.
However, the upgrades will need to relocate a tennis club, bowls and croquet club, prompting concerns from the community.
Situated in a residential area, the proposed changes could significantly disrupt locals during the Games, sparking opposition from nearby clubs and residents.
Furthermore, within the Toowoomba Regional Council, there’s debate over the project’s merits and potential legacy benefits, with no evidence presented to support claims of increased legacy content after the upgrade.
Managed by the Queensland Government, the stadium has long been a hub for local sporting clubs and occasional higher-profile events.
screenshot of recommendation report from the Queensland gov’t website
The recommendation
– Do not proceed with the Toowoomba Sports Ground project.
Instead, explore other opportunities to host Games events in the Toowoomba Region
which align with the region’s desired legacy outcomes.
According to reports, the recommendation put forward by the review panel has been accepted and the proposed upgrade for the Toowoomba Sports Ground will no longer proceed.
More updates on this news as development comes in.
Featured image from Queensland government website
