Protesters threaten to derail 60,000-seat Olympic stadium at Victoria Park

Saturday, 22 March 2025 20:00

Demonstrators took to the streets today in defiance, arguing that the project will destroy valuable green space.

The Queensland government is facing a legal challenge, with protestors threatening to halt the development of a new 60,000-seat Olympic stadium at Victoria Park.

Demonstrators took to the streets today in defiance, arguing that the project will destroy valuable green space and must be stopped due to the site's significance to First Nations communities.

The Save Victoria Park group has warned that they will brief barristers and explore various legal avenues to block the development in court.

The group believes Victoria Park should remain a "welcoming, accessible haven for relaxation, recreation, and connection with nature — not a venue for profit-driven ventures".

"We stand firmly against the proposed 55,000+ seat Olympic stadium that threatens to destroy this cherished parkland. Our focus is on safeguarding this community space from irreversible environmental and social harm," the group said.

Paddington councillor Seal Chong Wah attended the rally today, saying the community was outraged about the stadium.

"There is the ridiculous idea of putting a mega stadium in a Victoria Park Barrambin. This is a sacred cultural site and to do this is offensive quite frankly," she said.

"We know that they are breaching the host contract agreement."

Chong Wah called for "transparency and honesty" from the Queensland government.

The Victoria Park vision was laid out by architect Peter Edwards of firm Archipelago, which has also drawn up plans for a National Aquatic Centre.

There are suggestions that the ambitious idea will now go ahead after 9News revealed last night that the government plans to scrap the Brisbane Live Arena project to free up cash.

The Crisafulli cabinet is expected to lock in the Victoria Park stadium plan on Monday and announce the decision on Tuesday.

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