Brisbane names sole finalist to build Olympic stadium — ABC News Australia

In Australia’s Brisbane, the BESIX Watpac and John Holland joint venture has become the sole finalist in the selection of a contractor to build a new 63,000-seat stadium in Victoria Park. The venue is being prepared for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, ABC News Australia reports.

Contract negotiations

The Victoria Park site was transferred to the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority in June. Earthworks are already underway at the site. The BESIX Watpac and John Holland consortium will move to the final stage of contract negotiations and work with the stadium design team on the final details and construction methods.

Authority chief executive Simon Crooks said the initial stage of the contract process had been thorough and made it possible to select the best contractor for the second and final phase. The contract process for the stadium began in October last year. The consortium’s companies have previously worked on such venues as Lang Park, the Gabba, Melbourne’s Docklands Stadium and the stadium in Penrith.

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Cost and timeline

The estimated cost of the stadium is 3.6 billion Australian dollars. It is part of the 2032 Games infrastructure plan with a total value of 7.1 billion Australian dollars. The contracts are planned to be finalised next year, while construction is due to begin in 2027.

Olympics Minister Tim Mander said cost overruns must be avoided during the negotiations. State Premier David Crisafulli noted that before the contract is signed, the consortium must confirm value for money and its ability to build a high-quality venue.

After the Games, the stadium is planned to become the home venue for the Australian rules football team Brisbane Lions, as well as the cricket teams Brisbane Heat and Queensland Bulls. Australian companies Cox and Hassell and Japan’s Azusa Sekkei were previously selected to design the stadium.