Qld LNP Government Converts Victoria Park to Freehold, Gives Entire Park to GIICA

Late in the evening on Thursday 12 February 2026, amendments to the Major Sports Facilities and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 were passed in Queensland Parliament. As part of these amendments, the tenure of Victoria Park Barrambin was changed.

Previously, Victoria Park was state land held by Brisbane City Council under a Deed of Grant in Trust (DOGIT) for park purposes. This meant that the land was held in trust for public parkland use and could be leased, but not sold.

Under the new LNP legislation, that trust arrangement has been cancelled and replaced with freehold title vested in the Games Independent Infrastructure Coordination Authority (GIICA), a statutory body established to deliver Olympic infrastructure.

It’s important to note that the government has handed over the entire 64 hectare park, not just the proposed stadium foot print.

Opposition MPs and community groups like Save Victoria Park have raised concerns about the speed at which the amendment was introduced and passed, the lack of public consultation and scrutiny and about the potential long-term implications of the tenure change. There is also significant concern that this public owned parkland is planned to be sold off to developers for high rise units.

The park currently stands at a critical moment. Save Victoria Park continues to monitor these developments and to pursue all lawful avenues to protect Victoria Park Barrambin. The transfer to freehold does not remove the land's First Nations cultural significance, and it does not override federal law. The three applications lodged under Section 10 of the federal Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act seeking permanent protection of the park remain active and unresolved. The federal minister for Environment and Water, Murray Watt, has the ability to override the Queensland State Government and prevent this destruction under the ATSIHP legislation. This legal pathway is real, but it requires sustained financial backing from supporters. We need your help now more than ever to protect Victoria Park Barrambin. DONATE NOW.