Press Release: Heartbreaking scenes as mature trees cleared at Victoria Park Barrambin today - 06 August
(Brisbane, Australia 06 August 2026): Just four days after launching public consultation on the Victoria Park Masterplan, the Crisafulli government has sent heavy machinery into this heritage-listed park to clear mature trees en masse.
"This makes an absolute mockery of the consultation process," said Save Victoria Park spokesperson Sue Bremner.
"We stand here today, watching dumbfounded as beautiful trees that have taken years to grow, fall in a matter of seconds. Habitats violently disrupted. Observers reported distressing scenes of possums, cockatoos and other birdlife fleeing the trees as they were being felled. No wildlife spotters were sighted during the process.
"The Premier needs to explain why he has ordered this irreversible destructive work to happen at Victoria Park Barrambin this week."
Save Victoria Park understands there is no finalised project validation report - a condition of Federal Government Olympic funding - and only early concept designs for the Victoria Park Olympic precinct currently with the public for review.
Major questions also remain around the viability of the precinct, notably due to public transport constraints and Games overlay issues.
This morning, the Queensland Deputy Premier acknowledged in The Courier-Mail that the use of the Ekka station during the Olympics could be problematic, due to security concerns.
Multiple Section 10 applications to protect the cultural heritage of the park, lodged by First Nations elders under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act, also remain before Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt.
"It's inexplicable, not to mention highly disrespectful, to be doing irreparable damage to the very site that is currently being assessed for protection by the Minister," said Ms Bremner.
"This seems to be nothing more than a tactic to render any type of consultation utterly meaningless.
"It's an attempt to create the appearance of progress when the Games Infrastructure Authority and its contractors still haven't solved the massive problems with this complex site.
"We call on the state government to immediately halt the clearing, respect the federal legal process currently underway, and commit to public consultation in good faith."
ENDS