High stakes, fixed deadline: Queensland’s Olympic building challenge

Brisbane has just seven years until the 2032 Olympics. The challenge is set – and that starts with cost clarity, says WT’s Queensland State Director, Jack Shelley.

The Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games is one of the most ambitious delivery programs in Australia’s history, and it is bound to a fixed deadline.

World-class venues, accommodation, precincts and transport links will be under a global spotlight.

“Success will be judged by quality, value and legacy,” says Jack. “Budgets will be under extreme public scrutiny. The expectations from athletes, media and visitors will be sky high. And Queenslanders will deserve long-lasting value from the giant spend. To turn the heat up, throw in cost escalation, labour competition, and industry-wide constraints on productivity.”

Can Queensland deliver?

Construction in Queensland is already under serious strain. Major health, energy and housing projects are already competing for skilled labour. Infrastructure Australia warns we’ll need another 18,000 engineers in Queensland by 2032 – not to mention the thousands of tradies, project managers and other specialists.

“Across Australia, projects are blowing out, driven by inflation, risk premiums and labour shortages. Every delay, every vague scope, every procurement misstep comes at a hefty cost,” says Jack, who worked with high-profile Queensland projects and clients, including the Brisbane 2032 Olympics 100-day review.

“The consequences of falling short are untenable. Think of previous Games that haven’t gone swimmingly – leaving unfinished assets or expensive white elephants that sit underused and over budget after the closing ceremony.”

One 2016 study found that the International Olympic Committee and host cities frequently overestimate benefits and miscalculate costs. Since 1960, every Olympics has exceeded its budget, averaging a 172% overrun, with the exception of the 1984 Los Angeles Games, which reused existing infrastructure. Another study by the University of Oxford looked at 23 host cities, finding all exceeded their budgets, with Rio and Tokyo facing severe overruns of 352% and 128%, respectively.

Dollars, discipline and delivery

There’s still time to get it right.

This starts with cost clarity. “Not loose estimates, but robust forecasting based on live market intelligence, local insights and credible modelling. We need to understand not only the cost to build, but also the real cost to run, maintain, adapt and evolve every asset over decades.”

Rigorous cost control must follow.

“Without cost discipline from the outset, capital outlay and delivery outcomes will drift further apart. The right balance of functionality, finishes and whole-of-life value needs to be found early,” Jack notes.

“We must plan realistically for inevitable constraints. Strategic staging and packaging of projects will be critical. The right procurement approaches can incentivise performance, encourage innovation, support rapid mobilisation and accelerate delivery.

“There’s no doubt we’ll have to build faster and better. Some Queensland construction sites are averaging just 2.5 productive days a week. With a skilled labour shortfall and tight timelines, this won’t cut it.”

Built to last, not just to win

Modular construction, offsite manufacturing and preassembled components can dramatically lift efficiency, accelerate build times, and reduce labour intensity on site.

BIM, digital twins, AI and automation all offer opportunities to revolutionise the speed, control and quality of builds. “These tools provide greater transparency and precision, encouraging collaboration, accelerating decision-making and avoiding rework. But they need to be integrated from the outset, not as a late-stage resort.”

Every new build must have a life beyond the Games – whether that’s a venue converted into a multipurpose community facility, an athlete’s village transformed into social or affordable housing or student accommodation, or infrastructure that can cater for long-term growth in what is already Australia’s fastest growing region.

“It means designing for flexibility, lower lifecycle costs and long-term sustainability. It means choosing low-maintenance and high-durability materials, embedding energy efficiency and renewable electricity, and planning for adaptive reuse.

“The road to 2032 is steep and the clock is ticking. If we don’t act with urgency, we risk falling behind. It’s time to get real about the bottlenecks and how we can unlock the delivery strategies that will get us across the line.

“With the right strategies and partnerships, Queensland has the potential to deliver an exceptional Games and define the future of Australian infrastructure. We can’t afford to wait another year to ask whether we’re ready,” Jack Shelley concludes.

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