Write to Politicians

Dear [Politician's Name],

I am writing to strongly urge you to take any and all measures possible to protect Victoria Park Barrambin from a proposed Olympic stadium. Here are my reasons for vehemently opposing a stadium in the park -

UNSUITABLE TOPOGRAPHY

Victoria Park’s hilly terrain makes it an entirely impractical location for a stadium. Excavation costs to level the land would be exorbitant, adding unnecessary financial burdens to an already costly project. The steep gradients further complicate construction logistics, making this site far less viable than flat, accessible alternatives. In addition to this, the very hard Brisbane Tuff rock is prevalent in the area and would require blasting for earthworks. Any blasting of the site would have a significant impact on patients and staff at 3 local hospitals in the area - RBWH, St Andrews and Brisbane Private. It would also likely impact life saving equipment at these hospitals. 

IT WOULD VIOLATE OUR HOST LOCATION REQUIREMENTS

As you would no doubt be aware, the Operational Requirements of the Olympic Host Contract (VEN08) states that the following shall be implemented by the OCOG (Organising Committee for the Olympic Games) - 

1. “Ensure no permanent Olympic or Paralympic construction occurs in statutory nature areas, cultural protected areas and World Heritage sites” and

2. “Prioritise the use of previously developed or degraded land over green field sites for the development of new venues and infrastructure, where these can provide sustainability benefits for the local community.”

Building an Olympic stadium in Victoria Park Barrambin would directly violate these host location requirements. 

INADEQUATE PUBLIC TRANSPORT

When compared to Brisbane’s existing stadiums, such as the Gabba and Suncorp, the proposed stadium at Victoria Park is poorly serviced by public transport. The nearest train station, Exhibition Station, requires a walk that is twice as far as the walks from public transport hubs to the Gabba or Suncorp. Additionally, this walk traverses hilly terrain, making it inaccessible for older individuals or anyone with mobility challenges.

IMPACT ON RBWH

The RBWH is Queensland’s largest hospital and is situated in the Herston Health Precinct which employs over 13,000 staff. In 2023, RBWH provided more than one million episodes of care. A stadium across the road to our state’s major hospital would bring significant noise, traffic, and disruption, negatively impacting healthcare services and the wellbeing of hospital staff, patients, and visitors. A stadium in such close proximity to the RBWH would likely also create critical delays for ambulances and emergency services on game days, jeopardising patient care and outcomes.

GREEN SPACES ARE ESSENTIAL FOR COOLING CITIES

Urban green spaces like Victoria Park play a critical role in naturally cooling cities, mitigating the urban heat island effect caused by concrete and asphalt. Trees and vegetation in parks reduce temperatures, improve air quality, and provide shaded areas that help combat the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves. A recent study published in Nature Communications found that urban tree cover can lower local temperatures by up to 5°C, significantly mitigating heat stress in our city.

Removing green spaces and replacing them with heat-retaining infrastructure, like a stadium, would exacerbate Brisbane’s urban heat challenges. In a warming climate, protecting and expanding green spaces is essential for ensuring cities remain liveable, particularly for vulnerable populations like the elderly and children.

EXISTING TRAFFIC GRIDLOCK

The area surrounding Victoria Park is already plagued by significant traffic congestion. The park is encircled by major institutions, including -

* Queensland University of Technology (QUT): 20,000 students at its Kelvin Grove campus

* Kelvin Grove College: A school with over 4,000 students nearby

* University of Queensland Herston Campus: 2,000 students across the road

* Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH): Queensland’s largest hospital, with over 13,000 staff in the Herston Health precinct and 1 million episodes of care annually

Adding stadium-related traffic to an area already gridlocked by hospital access, school drop-offs, and nearby events at Ballymore, the RNA Showgrounds,  Brisbane’s Grammar and Terrace schools would cause chaos for commuters and emergency services

CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT SITE

Victoria Park / Barrambin holds significant cultural importance for First Nations’ people, as acknowledged by the local and state governments - 

"York’s Hollow is the most important Aboriginal cultural heritage site known within the study area. It is the place most frequently referred to in the literature concerning Aborigines and early Brisbane. It includes the area now covered by Victoria Park" - Indigenous Cultural Heritage Report for Cross River Rail

"The impact on York’s Hollow, which is of particular Aboriginal significance, will also need to be carefully managed... any impacts on the shape and vegetation of the landscape may have cultural significance for Aboriginal Parties." - Indigenous Cultural Heritage Report for Cross River Rail

IRREPLACEABLE LOSS OF GREEN SPACE

Brisbane has the lowest amount of inner city green space of any capital city in Australia. Building a stadium in the park would be a short-sighted decision with long-term consequences for our environment and community. 

IMPACT ON ECOSYSTEM AND WILDLIFE

Victoria Park is home to a rich biodiversity of wildlife. The area supports 60+ bird species, including iconic Australian species such as the Rainbow Lorikeet, Laughing Kookaburra, and Sulphur-crested Cockatoo. Other avian inhabitants, like the Nankeen Kestrel and Tawny Frogmouth, reflect the park's role as a haven for both common and specialised species. In addition to birds, the park shelters native mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and a diverse array of insects and pollinators essential for healthy ecosystems. Paving over this natural habitat for a stadium would devastate these populations, permanently displacing wildlife and disrupting ecological connections.

For all these reasons, I urge you to protect Victoria Park Barrambin from development. Great cities have great parks and we can’t stand to lose any part of Victoria Park.

Regards,

Dear [Politician’s Name],

I am writing to express my deep concern and strong opposition to any proposal to build a stadium in heritage-listed Victoria Park, Brisbane. This iconic park holds significant historical, cultural, and environmental value, and its protection is essential for the wellbeing of Brisbane residents.

Victoria Park’s proximity to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) raises serious concerns. As Australia’s largest hospital, RBWH employs over 9,000 staff and, in 2023, more than one million episodes of care were provided. The park offers a vital sanctuary for hospital staff, patients, and visitors. 

One objective of the 100-day review is ‘to promote long-term mobility solutions’.  The addition of a large, noisy venue would increase existing traffic congestion, increase stress levels, and disrupt healthcare services.  

Brisbane also faces a critical shortfall in green space, with the least amount of parkland within 3 km of its CBD compared to other Australian capitals. Adelaide has 10 times more, and Perth six times more. With inner-city densification accelerating, and backyards giving way to high-rise developments, we need more green space to counterbalance urban pressures, not less.

Victoria Park’s cultural significance cannot be ignored either. Known as "Barrambin" to First Nations people, it was a traditional meeting place, with York’s Hollow being state heritage listed. This rich Indigenous history deserves preservation, not erasure by development.

The park’s 150th anniversary in 2025 marks an important milestone. Originally 130 hectares were gazetted, but this has been progressively reduced to just 64 hectares. Further reductions dishonour its intended purpose as the “green lungs of the city.”

Finally, the hilly terrain of the park makes it an impractical and costly site for a stadium, with extensive earthworks required. This contradicts the Brisbane City Council’s Master Plan, which made no mention of a stadium after four years of community consultation and millions spent on planning.

I urge you to respect the community’s wishes and preserve Victoria Park for future generations.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Name]

Dear [Politician’s Name],

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposal to build a stadium in heritage-listed Victoria Park, Brisbane. This park is an irreplaceable asset to the city, and constructing a stadium would undermine its historical, cultural, and environmental significance.

The park’s location next to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH) further highlights its importance. RBWH is Australia’s largest hospital, employing 9,000 staff and in 2023, more than one million episodes of care were provided. A stadium next door would bring significant noise, traffic, and disruption, negatively impacting healthcare services and the wellbeing of hospital staff, patients, and visitors.

Brisbane’s inner-city suburbs are densifying rapidly, with backyards disappearing as high-rise apartments replace traditional homes. These densely populated areas will need more green space, not less, to support liveability and community health.

Victoria Park also holds deep cultural significance. Known as “Barrambin” by First Nations people, it was a key meeting place with Yorks Hollow serving as a gathering site for over 1,000 people. Preserving this heritage is essential for honouring Brisbane’s Indigenous history.

Victoria Park was gazetted in 1875 as the “lungs of the city” with an initial area of 130 hectares. Today, only 64 hectares remain due to various government projects, including the resumption of 5 hectares for the Inner City Bypass in 2001. Continued reduction would erode the park’s purpose and leave Brisbane with even less green space, despite the city already having the least parkland within 3 km of its CBD compared to any Australian capital. Adelaide enjoys 10 times more parkland, while Perth has six times more. Instead of reducing green space, Brisbane should be expanding it.

The 150th anniversary of Victoria Park in 2025 is a timely reminder of its legacy and importance. While Perth’s Kings Park remains 400 hectares, larger than New York’s Central Park, Victoria Park has been cut to less than half its original size. Building a stadium on its hilly terrain would also be prohibitively expensive, requiring extensive earthworks that could further damage the environment.

Mental health is another crucial factor. Victoria Park is more than a recreational area—it is a sanctuary for residents, hospital staff, students, and visitors from nearby institutions, such as the University of Queensland Medical School, the Oral Health Centre, and QUT. In a fast-paced world, this park provides much-needed peace and respite.

The Brisbane City Council’s Master Plan, developed over four years and released in 2023, reflects the community’s vision for a vibrant, green space. No stadium was included in the plan, and shifting the vision now would waste millions of dollars spent on consultations and undermine public trust.

I urge you to protect Victoria Park and respect the wishes of Brisbane residents who value this unique and historic green space.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Name]