Last-ditch push to save park slated for Olympic arena

Brisbane's Victoria Park sits at the center of a political clash as bulldozers prepare to clear space for the 2032 Olympic main arena. Demonstrators returned to the site, and on Friday police and council staff moved people from a long-running tent embassy, resulting in five arrests including a man tackled to the ground. By Sunday, hundreds gathered in a calmer rally, while officials warned construction could begin as early as Monday. The project, a $3.6 billion centerpiece for the Games, has drawn condemnation from Indigenous elders who call the park sacred to many First Nations peoples. State authorities note the site has been converted to freehold land, but the project remains subject to heritage laws that can delay work. Environment Minister Murray Watt said he had received 10 submissions seeking a declaration to protect an Aboriginal area under threat; two were declined and the rest remain under consideration. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said the government would press ahead on its timetable despite opposition, including Campbell Newman, while Save Victoria Park organizers stayed defiant. They argue the stadium deal is not final, pointing to weekend protests with slogans like 'parks over profits' and calls to the COI for inclusion and sustainability.