The Toowoomba Showgrounds will host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Equestrian events.
Toowoomba mayor Geoff McDonald said the $54 million Toowoomba Equestrian Centre was a legacy project that would benefit Queenslanders for the next 50 years.
“This is a watershed moment for the Toowoomba region,” mayor McDonald said.
“We are jumping for joy today.
“Our advocacy efforts … have paid off. In addition to the legacy element, to play such a significant role in the delivery of the world’s largest event, the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032, is a coming-of-age moment for the Toowoomba region.
“What an exciting time it will be for Toowoomba to have Olympic medals awarded right here in our region.
“The eyes of the world will be on us as the best dressage, showjumping and eventing riders and their incredible horses compete for Olympic glory right here in Toowoomba.
“The flow-on effects of today’s announcement could be massive and lead to the delivery of infrastructure for our region that may not have been possible without the golden opportunity of hosting Olympic and Paralympic events.
“I congratulate all involved in putting forward the Toowoomba Equestrian Centre project including the Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland (RASQ), Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) and commend the Queensland State Government for realising the legacy benefits to come as a result of today’s announcement.”
Speaking from the Glenvale Room at the Toowoomba Showgrounds, Queensland Treasurer and Member for Toowoomba South David Janetzki said it was a privilege to be at the centre of the decision that brought the Olympics to Toowoomba.
“This is more than a couple of weeks of sport, this is a lasting legacy for our region for decades to come,” he said.
TSBE has worked with the RASQ for about four years on the notion and plan to upgrade facilities at the Toowoomba Showgrounds to provide world-class horse sports facilities.
The Toowoomba Equestrian Centre (TEC) will capitalise on Toowoomba Showgrounds and Event Centre’s existing equestrian facilities.
RASQ CEO Damon Phillips said the project would leave the region with an equestrian centre capable of delivering national and international level events for a wide range of disciplines, including the Olympic equestrian sports.
“This facility will transform equestrianism in Queensland and will be generationally meaningful for the Toowoomba Showgrounds,” he said.
The nationally-significant project aims to fill identified state and national gaps in equestrian facility provision.
In Queensland, there are currently no competition facilities with international-level equestrian surfaces.
Across Australia, there are very few facilities of sufficient scale and quality to host national equestrian championships. Filling this demand will keep talent and competition in Queensland and grow the equestrian industry and support athlete pathways.
The economic benefits generated by the TEC include the economic contribution from a growth in service delivery, participation in equestrian sports, new markets and the sports tourism benefits from resulting visitation, as well as post-construction employment. These benefits extend well beyond the project construction phase. Once completed, the cost-benefit analysis indicates that the added value to the Toowoomba economy over the first five years will be in the vicinity of $6.8 million annually.
Mark Mason, TSBE’s Olympics Strategy project manager said the region had significant local capability and capacity to do the heavy lifting for both the development of the infrastructure build and the delivery of The Games.
“We, as a region, have worked very hard together to bring this vision to life and we look forward to meeting with the key stakeholders in the coming days and weeks to chart a course that delivers the best possible outcomes for our region and Queensland as a whole, Mr Mason said.”
