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The Queensland Government’s $2.7 billion plan to redevelop the Gabba to host the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympics is not required by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), according to Australian Olympic Committee Chief Executive Matt Carroll.

Speaking to the Federal Senate’s Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee, Carroll said that the rebuild was not required by the IOC and that the IOC's view was that infrastructure should not be built "just for the Olympics".

Carroll, who has previously, has called on the Federal Government to back sport’s ‘green and gold decade’ with an investment of $2 billion, also responded to questions as to who was accountable to make sure the Games went ahead, after Victoria pulled out of the Commonwealth Games last month.

Here he explained that the responsibility lay with a coordination office within the Queensland Premier's department, and that that body had a host agreement with IOC.

He was also questioned about the decision to move the East Brisbane State School to accommodate the Games.

Noting that the redeveloped Gabba's "primary" use would be to host AFL and cricket matches, Carroll explained “the IOC does not require you to build new venues unless you really need them.

"The Olympic movement is saying the decision is, 'If you don't have one, and want to build a new one, make sure it is not just for the Olympics'. And that's what the Gabba rebuild is about."

When asked to confirm his comments about the Gabba needing only a "coat of paint" in a speech to the National Press Club, Carroll said it was "an answer to a question put by a journalist at the time" and that his reference was "to the IOC and not the actual project".

Official defends Gabba redevelopment
The first day of the hearing also heard Organising Committee Officials defend the redevelopment of the Gabba.

Queensland’s State Development Director General, Mike Kaiser, emphasised that the rebuilding of the ageing 42,000 capacity venue, rather than partial redevelopment, was necessary, advising “without a doubt, the value-for-money outcome is a teardown and rebuild”.

As reported by the Brisbane Times, Kaiser explained “the cheapest of the other options was still A$2.2bn, and it would have been a refurbishment that would have denied us the opportunities to integrate it into the surrounding community and create those legacy benefits. And a refurbishment, as opposed to a rebuild, also comes with considerable risk.”

Earlier, Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate told the inquiry that using the existing athletics and swimming facilities in his jurisdiction, developed for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, would have provided better value than the plans for the Gabba and Brisbane Arena.

In relation to questions over the future of the East Brisbane State School, which sits next to the Gabba, Kaiser stated that each of the options, “whether it was refurbishment or rebuilding, required East Brisbane State School to close”.

Images:  A concept for the redevelopment of the Gabba (top) and AOC Chief Executive Matt Carroll (below).

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