Moreton Bay: higher, faster, stronger - together in Olympics ambition
Published 28 October 2021
Australia’s third-largest council has come out the blocks sprinting in its push to become a major hub for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, announcing a committee of community leaders to drive investment and legacy infrastructure.
Celebrating the achievements of local athletes at the 2020 Olympics at a special function in Eatons Hill, Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Peter Flannery today said he would establish an Olympic and Paralympic Legacy Working Group for the region to identify the needs of the fast-growing area and advocate for investment and other opportunities in the lead up to the 2032 games.
“Our homegrown heroes smashed records and took home a swathe of medals, living up to the motto: faster, higher, stronger - together. And just like them our region is keen to live up to that motto,” Mayor Flannery said.
“With Queensland hosting the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Moreton Bay has the opportunity to create a lasting legacy that will benefit our community for decades to come.
The group will be made up of representatives from the tourism, education and economic development sector, community, Olympians, Paralympians and the different levels of government.
“It will create a powerful voice for our region to make sure that we get our fair share of legacy infrastructure to propel Moreton Bay through the games and into the future.
Mayor Flannery said the region had already secured an $85 million indoor sports centre at The Mill for 2032, but it was vital to make sure the community did not let its foot off the pedal.
“Our region is home to 29,000 businesses, 139,000 jobs and an economy that creates $17.7 billion each year. In coming decades, our population will eventually become bigger than the population of the state of Tasmania.
“Council is already investing a record $743 million as part of our budget this year, on top of the most ambitious projects in recent years like The Mill at Moreton Bay, Redcliffe Peninsula Line and Caboolture West.
“But we don’t want to stop there. We have the opportunity to seize something special, and deliver better roads, more services and create a sustainable community.
“The eyes of the world will be on our region over the next 10 years as we gear up for 2032, and this is our chance to establish a region that will be the envy of all.”
Fresh off her success at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, Australian Swimmer Emily Seebohm said the possibilities for the region with the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games were amazing.
“I always look at how Sydney did 2000, and see how the venues still stand. Every time you go there, you can feel the energy that was there from the Olympics, and to think about that being in Moreton Bay is so exciting,” Ms Seebohm said.
“Growing up, I swam at the Albany Creek pool, I raced in it. And now we’ll see a lot of youngsters jumping in the pool, running on athletics track, whatever it might be that they pick up because the Olympics is coming and it’s the shining light for them.”
Mayor Flannery said some government representatives and athletes would be appointed, and a range of community positions for the working group would go out to an expressions of interest process in the near future.
“Community input will be vital to creating a legacy that benefits our region - and we’ll have more to say soon on positions for school-aged representatives, people from the social and accessibility sector, the First Nations community and our multicultural communities very soon,” Mayor Flannery said.
For more information on the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in the Moreton Bay Region head to www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au
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