A First Nations group has lodged a federal appeal to prevent the construction of the main stadium for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics at Victoria Park, a site of significant cultural heritage.
The Yagara Magandjin Aboriginal Corporation (Ymac) applied on Tuesday for permanent legal protection under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act. The decision rests with federal Environment Minister Murray Watt.
Victoria Park, known as Barrambin, is one of the most important Indigenous sites in inner-city Brisbane, according to historian Ray Kerkhove. It served as a camp for up to 1,500 Indigenous people and is on a songline.
The state and federal governments plan to spend $3.8bn on a 63,000-seat stadium, a 25,000-seat aquatic centre, and other infrastructure. In May, Queensland passed legislation exempting Games-related development from the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act and other planning laws.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli broke a pre-election promise not to build a new stadium at Victoria Park. Ymac spokesperson Gaja Kerry Charlton said the announcement came as a complete shock and expressed concerns over ancient trees, artefacts, and potential ancestral remains.
Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King has been contacted for comment. A state government spokesperson said the new laws provide a bespoke process for cultural heritage matters. Yagara elder Uncle Steven warned that once Victoria Park is lost, it is gone forever.
