“This is a project that was on the table long before the Olympics were announced for south-east Queensland and ticks all the boxes of GIICA’s 100-day review,” he said.
Toowoomba Mayor Geoff McDonald signing off on his council’s submission to GIICA’s 100-day review.Credit: Toowoomba Regional Council
“Most notably, the project delivers on benefits for regional Queensland from the delivery of the Games as well as the all-important legacy element. This is a project that will benefit Queenslanders for the next 50 years.”
The council’s submission describes the Toowoomba region as “Queensland’s equine hub” and the centre of the sport in the state.
“Unfortunately, the current proposed equestrian facility shared between the Brisbane [RNA] Showgrounds and a temporary equestrian course at Victoria Park/Barrambin will only provide a temporary facility for the Games, with no ongoing use for world-class events,” McDonald wrote in the submission.
But RNA chief executive Brendan Christou said his organisation had also lodged a submission to GIICA and would not give up equestrian hosting rights without a fight.
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“The government announced the nominated Olympic venues three years ago,” he said.
“Brisbane hosting the Games is an exciting once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase Queensland on the world stage and the RNA is delighted to be the nominated venue for equestrian.”
The RNA inadvertently found itself in the middle of the biggest political Olympic blow-up since Brisbane was awarded the Games, when Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner quit the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games intergovernmental leaders’ forum.
