Federal government rejects cultural heritage protection bids for Brisbane's Victoria Park ahead of Olympic stadium construction

The federal government has rejected two cultural heritage protection applications for Brisbane's Victoria Park, ahead of construction starting on the 63,000-seat Olympic stadium on Monday. From midnight, the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA) will take over ownership of Victoria Park from the Brisbane City Council, so that early works can begin. It comes despite protests against the government's decision to break its election promise and build a new stadium for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Indigenous groups have said the site is of deep cultural significance and they fear the loss of sacred springs and trees if construction goes ahead. Other community groups and advocates have said they want to see the inner-city parklands and green space preserved. To date, federal Environment Minister Murray Watt has received 10 applications seeking declarations to protect an area of the park under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act. On Sunday, Mr Watt said he had assessed two applications for declarations under the Act relating to the early works and was "unable to be satisfied that either application met the statutory requirements for a declaration to be made". "Today's decisions follow consultation with interested parties, and I acknowledge the importance of the area to the Turrbal and Yagara Peoples," Mr Watt said in a statement. He said his department was continuing to assess another application under section nine of the Act and four applications under section 10. "I have appointed a section 10 reporter to work with all interested parties to undertake a more detailed review of the issues before I determine if longer-term protections are required," Mr Watt said. "I encourage all parties to engage in this process, and the proposed development, in an open and transparent way." Under the Act, there are no powers to stop work and there are no statutory timeframes for determining applications. Groups vow to keep fighting On Sunday, hundreds of people gathered at Victoria Park to oppose the construction of the stadium. Organiser Sue Bremner, from Save Victoria Park, a group that says it wants the green space preserved for future generations, told the crowd they had "not given up" and were "still fighting". Councillor Seal Chong Wah said the "sacred living country" should be protected. "While they [the Olympics] are bringing all the nations together, they are destroying this Aboriginal nation," she said. Former Queensland premier and Brisbane mayor Campbell Newman also addressed the crowd. "In a city that is growing fast ... these places will be more and more precious and we need to save them," he said. "This fight is not over. The fight is not over because it is too important a fight to let go." On Friday, five people were arrested after police and council workers entered a camp opposing the stadium. On Saturday, one woman was charged after allegedly breaching her bail conditions. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said if people remained on the site after it was transferred to GIICA, they would be moved on. "It is going to be a construction site, and you can't have people protesting and living in tents on a construction site," he said. "It is not safe for them, it is not safe for the workers. "I don't think anyone is in any doubt in anyone's mind that the protesters had ample opportunity to vacate Victoria Park." The state government has sought to clear the way for the project by exempting it from a range of heritage, environmental and planning laws last year, and recently converted Victoria Park to freehold land. The last wedding The venue at Victoria Park, which includes a bistro and driving range, will stop trade at midnight. On its website, the Victoria Park management team said it would mark the end of 27 years as one of Brisbane’s "most recognised inner-city sporting, leisure and hospitality destinations". Management said its priority during the closure period would be to support the more than 220 staff employed across its bistro, event and golf services, as well as their customers. The venue has long been a favourite of high school sweethearts Amy Plumridge and Izak Hethorn, who were the last couple to tie the knot there on Saturday. "We frequent the putt-putt course quite a bit … we've come for the new themed events; we've tried the driving range a few times," Mr Hethorn said. "But we're not very good!," Ms Plumridge said. Mr Hethorn said it was "surreal" to be the last couple to be married at the venue. "My grade 11 semi-formal was here, which we were both at, so I would say it has over a decade of history for us," Mr Hethorn said.