As Brisbane, Australia, gears up for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, a vision for the city’s future has emerged with the unveiling the Northshore Vision 2050 plan. The €3.6 billion proposal, developed by the Brisbane Design Alliance, promises to transform Brisbane’s Northshore Hamilton district into a thriving hub of residential, commercial, and sports infrastructure that will leave a lasting legacy well beyond the Games.
Northshore is Queensland’s largest waterfront urban renewal project, with 2.5 kilometres of river frontage. The mixed-use, sustainable precinct is a landmark urban revitalisation project contributing more than €8.5 billion to Queensland’s economy.
The proposed plan addresses Brisbane’s infrastructure needs for the 2032 Olympic Games without burdening taxpayers. At its core, a state-of-the-art Athletes’ Village will house over 10,000 athletes during the Games, later transitioning into a vibrant residential community blending affordable and market-rate housing.
The new stadium, with a capacity of 60,000 seats, will be a centrepiece of the Northshore area. Purpose-built for Olympic events and designed to host future cricket and Aussie Rules matches, the stadium will also feature views of the Brisbane River and the city’s skyline, showcasing Brisbane’s beauty and subtropical climate to a global audience. Adjacent to the stadium, an aquatic centre and wave pool will add to the district’s draw as a year-round sports and entertainment hub.
Stage one will deliver the Athletes’ Village, stadium, supporting facilities, hotels, restaurants, and leisure amenities. Future stages will add over 12,000 residential units, cultural and enterprise zones, and a sports science hub, solidifying Northshore as a key driver of Brisbane’s long-term economic and social development.
The Brisbane Design Alliance, a consortium of global and local firms including Aurecon, Buchan, HKS, NRA Collaborative, and Nikken Sekkei, brings extensive experience in urban development and sports infrastructure, with past projects like London’s Olympic Park and Sydney’s Allianz Stadium. Aurecon, a key partner, has been vital in providing engineering and advisory services. Tim Spies, Aurecon’s Managing Director for Community and Place, emphasises the project’s impact: “Northshore provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a liveable city and region that celebrates our history, climate and lifestyle. It is an opportunity to create legacy infrastructure, including important transport connectivity well beyond the 2032 Games.”
Subsequent stages over the following 15 years would integrate an additional 12,000+ residential apartments, townhouses, enterprise, innovation, cultural zones, and a specialist high-performance sports science and sports medicine zone.
The project has received strong support from businesses, sporting groups, and the local community as Brisbane prepares for its global role in the 2032 Olympic Games.
The 2032 Summer Olympics takes place from 23 July to 8 August 2032, followed by the Paralympics from 24 August to 5 September.
