Victoria Park campaigners call for Olympics chiefs to protect parklands
Campaigners call to protect Victoria Park from Olympics construction saying it was affecting the “sacred parkland”.
Hundreds of people protested at Victoria Park/Barrambin in Brisbane over the weekend claiming work on Olympic venues could lead to the destruction of “sacred parkland”.
The group called on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to honour a contract they said prohibited the destruction of 64 hectares of culturally protected parkland.
Participants linked trees across the park with red thread, formed a human outline of the Olympic Rings and dropped banners from trees throughout the park.
The group cited the IOC Host Contract 2032 clause 15.3, page 18 states that said no new Olympic venues are to be built on a “statutory nature (or) cultural protected area”.
Despite this, protesters claimed the IOC has allowed the Queensland state government to build an Olympic stadium on Barrambin.
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Brisbane City Paddington ward councillor Seal Chong Wah claimed the plans were in direct violation of the IOC’s contract with Brisbane.
“Despite this clear written contract, the IOC is destroying the lungs of our city, an iconic and historical park… not only is this land cultural heritage and sacred to First Nations, it also holds 4,000 trees and 5 critically endangered species,” Chong Wah said.
These species include the large-leaf spotted gum, spotted gum, pink bloodwood, brushbox and Queensland blue gum.
In 2019, Brisbane City Council began a master planning project to restore the natural landscape, revitalise the park’s wetlands and waterholes, increase tree canopy to cover 60 percent.
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Yagarabul elder, Gaja Kerry Charlton, said Barrambin is the product of thousands of years of cultural custodianship.
“Barrambin is a living Country, possessing sacred, ancient and significant relationships within our cultural heritage systems. Plans to destroy this precious cultural heritage site denies our human rights to protect her from disrespectful colonial violence,” Charlton said.
In June 2025, the state government introduced special legislation specifically for the Olympics to bypass 15 pieces of planning and environmental protections, and Aboriginal cultural heritage laws.
In September, the Queensland Heritage Council approved the extension of an existing heritage order across all 64 hectares of the parkland due to cultural and heritage significance.
More than 1300 local residents have written to the IOC objecting to the Olympic stadium.
UQ associate professor Ray Kerkhove said Barrambin is one of the two most important indigenous sites in inner Brisbane.
InDaily contacted the Australian Olympic committee for comment but there was no response by deadline.
