Residents Fight to Save Roma Street Parkland in Brisbane Arena Bid

The proposed construction of Brisbane Arena at the Roma Street Parkland has drawn strong opposition from residents and community groups who argue the project threatens one of Brisbane’s most cherished green spaces.



Concerns Over Green Space and Community Impact

Roma Street Parkland, a 16-hectare inner-city sanctuary praised for its natural beauty and community facilities, is at the centre of a growing debate over its future. Residents and advocacy groups claim the planned 17,000-seat arena will irreversibly harm the parkland’s environment and usability. While originally proposed to be built over railway tracks, a revised plan moved the site to the northern corner of the park, near the Normanby five-ways.

Local groups, including the Protect Roma Street Parkland committee, have submitted formal objections, highlighting risks to established trees, rare urban rainforest areas, and community amenities. Detailed analysis within their submission notes the potential loss of over 1,200 mature trees, disruption of carefully designed ecosystems, and fragmentation of the park by walkways and new infrastructure such as lifts and escalators. The maintenance depot for park operations would also need to be relocated, a move residents argue will disrupt essential upkeep.

Committee spokesperson Ross Beames described the project as rushed and lacking proper community consultation, arguing it overlooks environmental and community risks. Many residents and visitors were unaware of the proposal until shown renderings, at which point they expressed strong opposition in surveys and petitions. The proposal’s visual impact, particularly on nearby residential buildings, and the shadowing of key park areas were highlighted as unacceptable changes.

Roma Street Parklands
Photo Credit: Protect Roma Street Parkland/Facebook

Alternative Proposals Suggested

Opponents of the arena have put forward several alternative sites for consideration, including Victoria Park, Hamilton, and the Gabba. The committee supports returning to the original proposal of building above railway tracks or constructing an arena adjacent to Woolloongabba’s Cross River Rail station. They argue these locations offer better transport connectivity and fewer community disruptions.

The submission also criticises the cost and constructability challenges of the Roma Street location. For example, the proposed site’s triangular shape, surrounded by rail lines and residential roads, presents logistical hurdles for construction access and operation. Additionally, the estimated cost of $2.5 billion for the project would result in one of the highest per-seat expenses for an arena globally, exceeding comparable venues like the proposed Gold Coast Arena.

Roma Street Parklands
Photo Credit: Protect Roma Street Parkland/Facebook

Petition and Community Response

Meanwhile, a petition led by community member David Meredith has garnered over 2,100 signatures, urging Queensland to relocate the arena. The petition stresses that the parkland’s unique design and role as a host for over 200 annual events would be jeopardised by the construction. It also raises concerns about traffic congestion, loss of carparks, and the shadowing of mature trees by large structures.

Park visitors surveyed by local residents overwhelmingly opposed the project when informed of its details. Many had previously believed the arena would be built at the original Brisbane Live site and expressed shock at the new plan’s potential impact on the park.



The petitioners requested that officials revert to earlier development plans under the 2021 Cross River Rail Priority Development Area guidelines. They also urged decision-makers to consider the broader social, economic, and environmental benefits of maintaining Roma Street Parkland as a fully functional green space.

The 100-day review of Brisbane’s Olympic infrastructure is underway.

Published 14-January-2025

Olympic Plans Reimagined: Brisbane Arena Plans Overhauled After Review

The independent review into the venue plans for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics has been completed and it recommended major changes to the flagship Brisbane Arena project.


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The long-awaited $2.5 billion arena, designed by Populous, was originally proposed to be built over the Roma Street rail lines in Brisbane’s inner city. However, the review panel has advised against proceeding with that location due to significant costs and disruptions it would cause to rail services.

Key Findings:

  • Building over the Roma Street rail corridor would result in a “significant and costly impact” on the rail signalling system.
  • Around 40 percent of rail services through Roma Street Station would need to be suspended for over two years during construction.
  • An additional 200 buses, not accounted for in the $2.5B budget, would be required to provide rail replacement services.
  • The projected construction timeline leaves little buffer for potential delays on such a complex site.
Photo credit: Populous

Instead, the review recommends relocating the Brisbane Arena, also known as Brisbane Live, about 500 metres away to a site currently occupied by a car park and maintenance depot, just north of the Roma Street Parkland. This would avoid the major rail disruptions whilst still positioning the arena in a central transport hub location.

The review panel considered several alternative sites for the Brisbane Arena, including Roma Street car park/depot, Parmalat, Visy, Queensland Police HQ, River Stage Precinct, Spring Hill, and Victoria Park. Most were deemed unviable due to issues like land acquisition costs, need to relocate existing operations causing program risks, flooding risks, site constraints, and inadequate size or proximity to transit. 

Photo credit: Nils van Wanderberts/Google Maps

Based on the analysis provided, the panel concluded the Roma Street car park/depot site north of Roma Street Parkland is the only viable option that can deliver the arena in time for the 2032 Games. This location also provides an opportunity to better integrate the arena with the surrounding urban environment compared to the original over-rail plan.

Photo credit: Google Street View

The panel advised that appropriate vehicular access, pedestrian links, and underground parking need to be incorporated into the new arena design on the alternative site. Upgrades would also be required to widen and improve accessibility along the pedestrian pathway linking the site to Roma Street Station.

Perhaps most significantly, the review estimates the total cost of the revamped project is “anticipated to be in excess of $4 billion” once all the associated works are factored in. This is well above the $2.5 billion budget previously agreed with the Australian government for Olympic funding.

A decision on investing in the project is required by early 2025 to ensure the Arena’s completion by early 2031, providing adequate time for pre-Games test events.


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The Queensland government will now need to decide whether to proceed with the recommendations and find a way to fund the higher price tag for this major 2032 Games venue. With just over a decade until the Opening Ceremony, getting the Brisbane Arena plans finalised is a critical early step.

Published 19-March-2024