{"id":7000,"date":"2023-06-15T10:04:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-15T00:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/?p=7000"},"modified":"2024-10-21T20:31:05","modified_gmt":"2024-10-21T10:31:05","slug":"brisbane-2032-qld-gov-plans-mass-timber-olympic-village","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/brisbane-2032-qld-gov-plans-mass-timber-olympic-village\/","title":{"rendered":"Brisbane 2032: QLD Gov has Mass Timber in Olympic Village Plans"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Wood Central can reveal that the Queensland Government will look to mass timber as one of its preferred construction materials for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Athlete Villages.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Announced during the \u2018Doing Timber Business in Queensland\u2019 symposium,<\/a> the Hon. Bart Mellish supported greater investment in engineered wood products (mass timber) and their use in constructing Olympic Venues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe can see timber as a building material has great potential in achieving the government\u2019s commitment to a climate-positive Games.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Mellish timber is increasingly recognised as a central plank \u2013 or a support beam \u2013 driving the international response to climate change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We are seeing more public awareness that timber can substitute for steel, concrete, and aluminum. Timber can perform better than its alternatives.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUsing timber for the athletes\u2019 village could achieve a dual legacy as a sustainable venue and as lasting affordable accommodation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bart Mellish is the Assistant Minister to the Premier for Veterans\u2019 Affairs and the Public Sector <\/a><\/em>and gave the keynote address, \u2018Pathway to the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wood Central understands that the main athletes’ village will be built on prime Brisbane waterfront real estate at Hamilton, with smaller accommodation options on the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, and Kooralbyn, near the rowing venue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Industry: now the work begins<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

The Australian Forest Products sector has backed the announcement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a joint statement, the Australian Forest Products Association and Timber Queensland welcomed the commitment by the Palaszczuk Government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is very exciting for Queensland\u2019s forestry and timber sector and nationally. The Palaszczuk Government has firmly recognised the value of timber in the context of creating a climate positive Olympic Games. Now the sector and the Government need to work together early with relevant Olympic planning forums to deliver the best outcomes for effective timber supply and venue design, construction and jobs,\u201d Mick Stephens, CEO of Timber Queensland, said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGovernments everywhere should be actively looking at ways to increase the use of sustainably sourced timber and wood in new infrastructure to enhance the environmental and climate credentials of new builds,\u201d Natasa Sikman, acting CEO of the Australian Forest Products Association said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd it\u2019s not just Queensland\u2019s 2032 Olympics, we also recognise the opportunities the Victorian Government has to create a climate-friendly Commonwealth Games in 2026 \u2013 in regional Victoria through timber as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last week, Deb Kerr, CEO of the Victorian Forest Products Association (VFPA) wrote a contribution for Wood Central.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The 2026 Commonwealth Games for regional Victoria is not just about breaking records.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the article, Kerr calls on the Victorian Government to use mass-timber in the construction of regional facilities and the establishment of a Commonwealth Plantation Estate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Northshore Hamilton Development Area identified for the main Athletes Village<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

In October 2022,<\/a> the Queensland Government accelerated plans for the athlete village with Planning Minister Steven Miles approving the expansion of the Northshore Hamilton Priority Development Area (PDA), about 6 kilometres north of the CBD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n