‘Missed the boat’: Former lord mayor questions 2032 transport legacy

The state government also began looking for alternatives for its coastal railway projects after finding current funding levels fell short of expected costs for the two major upgrades.

The Commonwealth-state funding agreement for the Games will have to be renegotiated, and there is still no transport and mobility strategy.

Quirk – who led a 2024 review of venues for the Labor government, which rejected his central recommendation of a stadium at Victoria Park – said the stadium debate had become a distraction.

“All of the focus and all the discussion has been around sport venues, and that wasn’t what it was about originally,” he said.

Asked about Quirk’s comments, and the strategy, Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg pointed to the pending release of the review and the government’s response.

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“The Crisafulli Government will announce the Games delivery plan on March 25, which will finally put Queensland on track to make the most of this once-in-a-generation opportunity,” he said.

Brisbane City Council transport chair Ryan Murphy said the Metro was poised to support the Games, through works to add up to 22 stations, which it had pitched late last year.

“With the Australian government’s support, we are now progressing a rapid business case to progress the expansion of Brisbane Metro to Carseldine, Capalaba, Springwood and out to the airport,” he said.

Murphy said the Metro was key to Games transport as it was “no longer practical or affordable to build above-ground heavy rail routes”.

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