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Murray Wenzel

Liveris wary of Gabba budget blowout

The cost of redeveloping the Gabba to be Brisbane 2032's Olympic stadium could be north of $1b. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

The Gabba's status as Brisbane's 2032 Olympic stadium remains uncertain as Games chief Andrew Liveris warned against a budget blowout to upgrade the venue.

Liveris used his first public address as president of the local organising committee to open the bidding process to create Brisbane's Games brand.

Speaking at the Queensland Media Club, the businessman said he would be accountable for the viability of the event.

With the luxury of a 10-year approach to the Games he asked for "urgent patience" but admitted questions remained over key infrastructure.

The cost of demolishing and rebuilding the Gabba precinct has been estimated to climb above $1 billion.

A large footprint will be required to house an athletics track and warm-up facility, as part of a modern entertainment precinct.

The stadium is home to the AFL's Brisbane and Queensland Cricket and both parties are understood to be in favour of the demolition.

The International Olympic Committee have ticked off the plan but Liveris said alternatives, which include redeveloping Albion Park, remain on the table.

"I'm a fan of the location of the Gabba being what it is - I like that idea as a Brisbane boy - but we don't want to have a blown-out budget to do it," he said.

"I'm sure that people responsible for looking at the cost, which is the government, will come eventually and say, 'This is the better plan', and whatever the better plan is, we'll take you through the process.

"If a change is needed ... look, that host contract is great, the binding agreements are great, but they aren't perfect.

"You learn, and learning means you've got to maybe be open to making changes to things that you have previously agreed to.

"Those cases need to be made, and they will be made. Our OCOG (Organising Committee for the Olympic Games) boards will sit and listen and, frankly, follow the process to make those changes."

Liveris said bidders to create the Games brand should approach the task with some subtlety, citing Barcelona's efforts in 1992 to become a tourist hot-spot.

"Who do we want to be? Answer that and then design the symbols and emblems that go with it," he said.

"It's not the other way around. I can go with a surfboard or a koala bear, but that's just a symbol of our geography and our location.

"Who are we as a people, and what do we aspire to be?

"These are the sorts of things that the top brand marketers will tell you are really what matter today."

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