Myth: Victoria Park Has Better Public Transport

2. Public Transport near Victoria Park is a Further Distance Compared to Other Olympic Locations

A review of the stadiums for Paris, Tokyo, London and Rio reflects different public transport arrangements and outcomes -

• Paris had a Metro (rail) stop less than 500m from the main stadium and many closer bus stops and potential drop-off locations

• Tokyo had a Metro stop within 100m and a further two Metro lines (3 stations) less than 600m from the stadium

• London had a network of somewhat more distant public transport options including 3 tube lines, railway and light rail lines (as the area was a major redevelopment of a waterway park system) servicing the urban development around the stadium though many bus stops in close proximity. Separate bus shuttle services were needed where users could not navigate the travel distances from existing train and tube lines. This arrangement continues with the use of the stadium by West Ham football club

• Rio similarly had a bus-based system. Clearly the models which are functional and non-discriminatory are those of Tokyo and Paris where all users have best opportunities to access venues from rail services in close proximity to the stadium, not needing specialist shuttles and bus services.

3. Walk from Public Transport Options is Up Hilly Terrain

The walk from Metro and train public transport options requires walking up Victoria Park’s hilly terrain. The park is made up of rolling hills and low lying areas. Some of the terrain would be untenable for many older or disabled visitors to a stadium.

4. Over-reliance on the Capacity of Metro and Buses

A stadium at this location would be primarily reliant on the capacity of the Metro system and buses using the Inner Northern Busway (the Metro stop for QUT being closest) and the Herston stop opposite the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. Local bus services are virtually non-existent through Herston. There are two buses in each direction per hour off-peak to the City or Brookside. Otherwise, only a seasonal QUT bus service exists between the City and Kelvin Grove campuses. Other options are not situated in close proximity.

• The Cross River Rail Exhibition station is a 1.2km walk across sloping terrain

• Bus stops on Kelvin Grove Road are 1km away across sloping terrain

• Services on Bowen Bridge Road are around 1km from the stadium site

Pressure on a single finite alignment is highly problematic and vulnerable. For example, Paris experienced enormous problems with their national rail system when the Olympics were commencing. There are also significant limitations and vulnerabilities for the Metro system. The buses are electric, so require charging and immense numbers of vehicles would be required to service the single alignment to provide the primary access for the venue.

For 75,000 patrons, 170 patrons per completely full Metro bus = 441 services would be necessary or 3 times as many regular buses. The 2018 Draft Design Report for Brisbane Metro stated “Brisbane Metro can deliver services every three minutes in peak periods on each metro line and up to every 90 seconds in the inner city, and with the capacity to carry up to 22,000 customers per hour per direct from day one of operations, with increased capacity in the future.” Whilst this comment reflects increasing capacity over time, this capacity figure relates to the whole Metro network. It does not provide assurance, the system of Metro and bus services provided on the Inner Northern Busway will be sufficient for a stadium to rely on these as a primary access for users of a stadium. Dependence on a single system is highly problematic.

The Cross River Rail (in combination with the Metro system) which would service the Gabba has a far greater capacity. The Cross River Rail future nine-car trains will have a seated capacity for 651 passenger and design capacity of 1,125 passengers (can run as many as 24 trains in each direction by 2031).

5. Public Transport Access Shouldn’t Justify Destroying Green Space

While proximity to public transport is a valid consideration for large infrastructure projects, it should not outweigh the significant environmental, cultural, and community costs of building a stadium in Victoria Park / Barrambin. There are other sites in Brisbane with better public transport access OR sites where public transport access could be developed without sacrificing the critical and irreplaceable green space that is Victoria Park.

6. Misleading Justification for a Stadium

Proponents of a stadium in Victoria Park often use public transport as a convenient justification, but the real drivers behind the push for a stadium in the park are often financial and corporate interests. It’s important to critically evaluate whether these claims truly serve the community or if they are designed to make an otherwise unsuitable location seem appealing.