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Small and family businesses on the Sunshine Coast have been urged to position themselves for a share of $2.5 billion in procurement tied to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with the Queensland government warning the window to prepare is narrowing fast.
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said businesses were running out of time to get ready for Olympic-related contracts, as ministers met with local industry leaders at a procurement briefing in Bokarina, in his Kawana electorate, on Tuesday.
“The runway is short, but there is an amazing opportunity for small and family business,” he said.
More than 600 businesspeople attended the briefing by those responsible for both Olympic procurement decisions and updates on major Sunshine Coast infrastructure projects linked to the Games.
Sports Minister Tim Mander said the Olympics were not only about medals for athletes, but also economic opportunities for local firms.
“There are going to be plenty of gold medals handed out in 2032, but today was about gold medals for small- and medium-sized family businesses,” he said.
“Around $2.5 billion worth of contracts were made available to businesses across the state, and today was all about helping local businesses know how they can get involved in that process.”
The Sunshine Coast has been flagged as one of the host regions for the Games, with events planned across the area and a significant infrastructure pipeline to be delivered before 2032.
The Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Committee was overseeing the delivery of the Sunshine Coast Stadium, while a new privately built arena was planned for Maroochydore – along with an associated athletes’ village.
Bleijie said the state government would invest tens of billions of dollars into capital works over the coming years, with a substantial portion directed to the Sunshine Coast.
“People are going to see early works happening this year on a lot of the things on the Sunshine Coast,” he said.
“Tenders are being issued. Design is underway. Next year, construction kicks off for a lot of this infrastructure.”
Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said the Games were a chance for the region to close long-standing infrastructure gaps and stimulate the local economy, with opportunities extending beyond construction to hospitality, manufacturing, agriculture and service industries.
“Whatever it is that you do on the Sunshine Coast, there is an opportunity for you to benefit from the delivery of this infrastructure, and then the delivery of the show – the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” she said.
Bleijie acknowledged local scepticism that The Wave – the Sunshine Coast rapid bus transit project loosely modelled on the Brisbane Metro – would be delivered in time for the Games.
“Sunshine Coast residents who say ‘we’ll believe it when we see it’ – you’re going to see it soon,” he said.
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