Construction companies are ready to pounce on Queensland tenders for the 2032 Olympic venues but there are also concerns about a shortage of resources to get all the work done.
Concrete Institute Bronze member BESIX Watpac has its sights set on the $3.785 billion 63,000-seat stadium in Herston’s Victoria Park opposite Brisbane’s main hospital precinct along with the $650,000 million aquatic centre upgrade at Centenary Pool on the edge of the CBD, according to REAL COMMERCIAL.
Built and and BMD Group, Australia’s largest privately owned civil contractor, have also expressed interest in the stadium, and Hutchinson Builders is expected to tender for the athletes’ village, but may find itself competing with Lendlease.
The RNA Showgrounds in Bowen Hills will house the village along with an upgraded 20,000-seat arena, and a 3000-seat tennis court arena plus 12 match courts will also be built at the Queensland Tennis Centre in Tennyson.
All the extra work on top of the housing crisis has some in the industry concerned. Australian Constructors Association said Queensland could not afford further delays caused by slow business cases and inefficient procurement processes that caused cost overruns and contractor insolvencies.
Meanwhile Master Builders Association said building the Olympic venues would put pressure on the industry in the housing crisis, according to ABC NEWS, and that an additional 30,000-40,000 workers would be needed each year until 2032 to deliver all the projects across the sector.
A total of $7.1 billion will be spent on infrastructure and transport for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games but unlike Brisbane’s Commonwealth Games’ outlying venues of 1982, most of the venues will be in the inner city, making traffic congestion something construction companies will also have to contend with.
Image: Victoria Park was transformed from a golf course to a 45 hectare public park in 2019. Credit: BCC.
About the author
Desi Corbett
Desi is the Editor of Concrete in Australia, at the helm since December 2013, and our weekly news writer since 2016. Focused on concrete and construction for more than 11 years, her expertise in this field forms part of a journalism career spanning three decades. To get in touch please email desi@corbettcomms.com