National Aquatic Centre Archives - Fortitude Valley News

Brisbane CBD Set to Become a Massive Transport Hub for New Sports Venues

Everyday commuters in the Brisbane CBD will soon share their streets with massive waves of sports fans as the city centre transforms into the main transport link for a new aquatic hub.

The Big Connection

When the global sporting spotlight turns to Brisbane in 2032, the inner-city geography will change dramatically. Because Fortitude Valley sits directly between the future athletes’ village in Bowen Hills and the new sports hubs in Spring Hill, it will become the main route for people walking to the events.

Spectators arriving from the Brisbane central business district will also move heavily through these local streets as they are guided north toward the newly designed Victoria Park precinct.

Building the Water Sports Hub

A major piece of this urban puzzle is the brand new National Aquatic Centre. This massive facility will be built right next to the historic Centenary Pool on Gregory Terrace in Spring Hill.

During the peak of the games, the centre will hold 25,000 cheering fans watching elite swimming, artistic swimming, diving, and water polo. When the major events finish, the building will be downsized to an 8,000-seat community legacy centre. This will leave a high-quality training space for locals, supported by further upgrades at the existing Chandler Sports Precinct.

Tackling the Parking Squeeze

With heavy construction planned at the RNA Showgrounds and Victoria Park, local leaders want to prevent traffic chaos before the massive crowds arrive. Central Ward representative Vicki Howard stated that managing the impact on local neighbourhoods is a top priority as the area transforms into a global sports hub. To help clear up street space and manage the influx of visitors, the local council is looking at changing the two-hour general parking limit that has managed the Brisbane Central Traffic Area since 1961.

Seeking Community Thoughts

Officials are currently suggesting a strict one-hour parking limit to keep cars moving and improve parking turnover. Howard noted that this change could make it easier for residents and shoppers to find parking during both the heavy construction years and the main sporting events themselves. Before making any official changes, the council is asking locals to share their thoughts and feedback online so the final traffic plan works for the people who actually live and work in the area.

Published Date 25-May-2026

2032 Olympics: Brisbane’s National Aquatic Centre Budget Jumps to $1.2B

The cost of building Brisbane’s National Aquatic Centre (NAC) for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games has nearly doubled, now projected at $1.2 billion.

Read: Spring Hill to Become Home of Australia’s Largest Aquatic Venue for 2032 Games

The revised figure, confirmed by the Games Independent Infrastructure Authority (GIICA), is significantly higher than the $650 million originally estimated by Swimming Australia earlier this year.

Despite the price increase, officials say the scope of the project in Spring Hill remains largely unchanged. GIICA chair Stephen Conry said the updated figure reflects a more realistic assessment of the project’s cost and emphasised that the aquatic centre will be a long-term investment for Queensland. He described the NAC as a world-class facility that will serve as a national hub for aquatic sports and provide lasting benefits for future generations.

Once complete, the aquatic centre will be the second most expensive Olympic venue after the $3.8 billion main stadium at Victoria Park, located less than a kilometre away. The NAC is expected to be funded through a partnership with the federal government.

The higher price tag does not come as a surprise to many involved in the planning process, who had questioned the earlier cost estimate. Planning for the centre had been constrained by the tight time frame of GIICA’s 100-day review earlier this year, which did not allow for detailed cost analysis.

Shifting the $2.5 billion Brisbane Arena project to private sector funding has freed up public funds, allowing the NAC and other venues—such as a proposed rowing course in Rockhampton—to move forward.

Work is already underway to assess whether the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton can be adapted to meet Olympic requirements. While initial assessments suggested limitations, GIICA is now conducting further studies to explore its feasibility.

Read: Fortitude Valley Builders Join $7.1b Olympic Push

Construction of the National Aquatic Centre is expected to begin in late 2026 or early 2027. Conry said planning is progressing well, though he acknowledged that unexpected challenges are common in large infrastructure projects. He expressed confidence that the delivery timeline remains on track and suggested public support for the Games continues to grow.

Published 23-July-2025

New National Aquatic Centre Planned for Spring Hill With Major Facility Upgrades

Photo Credit: Archipelago

The planned new aquatic centre in Spring Hill will feature three new pools and two new diving towers, setting a new benchmark for aquatic sports infrastructure in Australia as preparations continue for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

A major aquatic facility is set to be developed at the current Centenary Pool site in Spring Hill as part of Brisbane’s Olympic legacy. This project aims to serve both elite athletes and the broader community, offering a world-class training and competition venue.

Two large indoor stadiums will be built, each equipped with pools designed for elite training and high-level competitions. The centre will also include modern amenities to support both athletes and community users.

During the 2032 Games, the venue’s capacity will temporarily expand to over 25,000 seats, making it the largest Olympic swimming venue in Australian history and surpassing the size of the facility used in Paris 2024. Following the Olympics and Paralympics, the National Aquatic Centre will offer a lasting, world-class facility with a permanent seating capacity of 8,000, providing long-term benefits for Australia’s aquatic sports community.

While most aquatic events for the 2032 Games are planned for this new Spring Hill location, the Brisbane Aquatic Centre in Chandler will also undergo necessary upgrades to support the competitions.

Community and National Benefits

Aquatic sports bodies across Australia have strongly supported the development of the National Aquatic Centre in Brisbane, seeing it as a vital legacy project from the 2032 Games. Other potential locations would not meet the long-term needs of both the sporting community and the broader public.

Concerns have been raised that temporary pool solutions or relying solely on existing facilities would fail to provide a lasting aquatic legacy for Brisbane and Queensland. Upgrading the Brisbane Aquatic Centre in Chandler alone is insufficient to address current challenges or deliver significant future benefits.

The proposal for the Spring Hill site aims to create a vibrant community space that will generate economic, health, and social advantages for many years after the Games conclude. The main indoor pool has been designed to accommodate 19,350 spectators during the 2032 Games, which later reduced to at least 5,850 seats. The second indoor pool will have 5,000 seats during the Games, with a legacy capacity of 2,500.

The National Aquatic Centre’s location is also noted for its good access to public transport, being within walking distance of the Exhibition railway line and Brisbane Metro. Its proximity to Brisbane City and Spring Hill hotels and restaurants, suitable land for construction, and potential for expanded parking to serve nearby facilities like the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital are also advantages.

A Hub for Aquatic Sports

The National Aquatic Centre is expected to unlock significant opportunities for Australia’s four major aquatic sports. It will provide a central location for daily high-performance training, athlete development pathways, and community access for people of all ages and abilities.

This project is viewed as a chance to honour Australia’s strong connection to aquatic sports and potentially establish South-East Queensland as a leading global centre for water sports. The long-term strategy has received endorsement from the Australian Olympic Committee, Paralympics Australia, and World Aquatics.

The national aquatic bodies consider investment in a new, permanent facility essential. Research from the Royal Life Saving Society Australia indicates a growing demand for existing public pools and the increasing social value they provide to communities nationwide.

Games Infrastructure Plan

The Queensland Government said the Spring Hill is a key legacy infrastructure for Greater Brisbane from the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This plan emerged from a review process and stakeholder consultation.

While a new Brisbane Stadium at Victoria Park will be the central Games precinct, the aquatic centre in Spring Hill is a significant sporting venue. Upgrades are also planned for other sporting facilities across Brisbane. Queensland has stated that this infrastructure plan will deliver lasting benefits for decades after the Games.

Olympic champion Cam McEvoy expressed his excitement about the NAC, seeing it as a venue to inspire future athletes and provide state-of-the-art training facilities. He highlighted South-East Queensland’s strong performance in swimming and believes the NAC will further solidify this.

Published Date 16-May-2025