Why this matters for QLD tradies right now
Queensland’s Games build-up isn’t one project, it’s a pipeline. GIICA’s venue program alone is 17 new and upgraded venues across the state, and GIICA publishes both locations and delivery phases (planning/approvals, design, early works).
At the same time, construction demand is forecast to surge into the 2026–27 window. CSQ’s Horizon 2032 report forecasts Queensland’s construction pipeline rising from $53B (2024–25) to $77B (2026–27) and projects workforce demand peaking at 156,000 workers in 2026–27, with an 8-year average shortfall of 18,200 workers.
That combination, big pipeline + labor constraints, drives a simple reality on major work: the tradies who get picked (and start faster) are the ones who are procurement-ready and site-doc ready, not just price-ready.
Top 10 Brisbane 2032 “tradie facts” worth knowing
- 17 venues (7 new, 10 upgraded) listed by GIICA as its core venue delivery scope.
- GIICA’s program is framed as delivering 50+ fields of play (courts/fields/pools) for community and high-performance use.
- The 2032 Delivery Plan page includes a milestone timeline from bid win through 2032 Games dates, and notes sports confirmed by the IOC in 2026.
- The Olympic Games dates are stated as 23 July to 8 August 2032, and Paralympic Games dates as 24 August to 5 September 2032 on Queensland’s Delivery Plan site.
- The Australian Government confirmed a $3.435B contribution toward a $7.1B Games Venue Infrastructure Program, with 17 venues delivered across Queensland including the main stadium and National Aquatic Centre.
- Reuters reporting (July 2025) described the agreement as unlocking construction momentum and noted construction on major venues was not expected to begin until late 2026 (at the time of reporting).
- CSQ forecasts the pipeline and workforce squeeze: peak demand 156k (2026–27) and average shortfall 18.2k over eight years.
- CSQ’s 2025–26 construction outlook forecasts a $69.8B pipeline (building $48.7B + engineering $21.1B), with ~146,100 workers needed on average and a shortfall of about 40,000 workers for 2025–26.
- Australia’s business.gov.au states the Games procurement program is open for EOIs with about $2.5B on offer and around 500 opportunities across categories including temporary infrastructure, transport, fencing/barriers, signage, technology, and more.
- WorkSafe QLD states SWMS must be kept and available for inspection until at least the high risk construction work is completed (and revised versions should be kept).
What’s being built (the GIICA venue list tradies can track)
Below is GIICA’s published list of the 17 new and upgraded venues, with location and current phase labels as shown by GIICA.
| Venue (GIICA) | New / Upgraded | Location (GIICA listing) | Current phase shown by GIICA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anna Meares Velodrome | Upgraded | Chandler Sports Precinct – Sleeman Sports Complex, Chandler / Brisbane | Planning and approvals |
| Barlow Park Stadium | Upgraded | Parramatta Park / Cairns | Design |
| Brisbane Aquatic Centre | Upgraded | Chandler Sports Precinct – Sleeman Sports Complex, Chandler / Brisbane | Planning and approvals |
| Brisbane International Shooting Centre | Upgraded | Belmont / Brisbane | Planning and approvals |
| Brisbane SX International BMX Centre | Upgraded | Chandler Sports Precinct – Sleeman Sports Complex, Chandler / Brisbane | Planning and approvals |
| Brisbane Stadium | New | Herston / Brisbane | Planning and approvals; Design; Early works |
| Chandler Sports Precinct | Upgraded | Chandler Sports Precinct – Sleeman Sports Complex, Chandler / Brisbane | Planning and approvals |
| Logan Indoor Sports Centre | New | Logan Central Precinct / Logan | Planning and approvals |
| Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre | New | The Mill Precinct, Petrie / Moreton Bay | Planning and approvals |
| National Aquatic Centre | New | Victoria Park, Spring Hill / Brisbane | Planning and approvals |
| Para Sport Facility | New | Chandler Sports Precinct – Sleeman Sports Complex, Chandler / Brisbane | Planning and approvals |
| Queensland Tennis Centre | Upgraded | Tennyson / Brisbane | Planning and approvals |
| Redland Whitewater Centre | New | Birkdale / Redlands Coast | Planning and approvals |
| Rockhampton Flatwater Facility | Upgraded | Fitzroy River / Rockhampton | Planning and approvals |
| Sunshine Coast Mountain Bike Centre | New | Maroochy River / Sunshine Coast | Planning and approvals |
| Sunshine Coast Stadium | Upgraded | Kawana / Sunshine Coast | Planning and approvals |
| Toowoomba Showgrounds | Upgraded | Glenvale / Toowoomba | Planning and approvals |
Source: GIICA “Our venues” page (venue list, locations, and phases).
Important context: GIICA also notes these 17 venues are one piece of the broader Games venue ecosystem (other existing/temporary venues and athlete villages also sit in the overall plan).
Which sectors and trades are likely to feel the biggest pull
CSQ’s 2025–26 snapshot is one of the clearest public ways to frame “where demand sits” in Queensland construction.
| Demand area | What CSQ’s 2025–26 outlook says | What this means for tradies (practical interpretation) |
|---|---|---|
| Total pipeline | $69.8B (2025–26), made up of $48.7B building + $21.1B engineering | Expect both building and civil/engineering work to compete for the same trades and supervisors |
| Building pipeline | Residential and non-residential split is shown (58% / 42% for 2025–26 snapshot) | Housing + commercial/public building keeps subcontractor demand broad (carpentry, plumbing, electrical, concreting, finishing trades) |
| Engineering pipeline | Engineering sub-sectors shown (e.g., electricity, transport, mining/heavy industry, water/sewerage, etc.) | More plant, concrete, steel, electrical, and project management pressure |
| Building occupations in demand (examples) | carpenters/joiners; building & plumbing laborers; painters; plumbers; electricians; concreters & plasterers | These are the “core trades” that tend to get pulled into both venue work and the broader Queensland pipeline |
| Engineering occupations in demand (examples) | structural steel workers; miscellaneous laborers; earthmoving/plant operators; electricians; concreters; civil engineers; construction managers | Expect competition for operators, concrete, steel, and supervision—especially as multiple major projects overlap |
Source: CSQ “Construction Industry Outlook 2025–26” (pipeline figures, shortages, and key occupations lists).
Where tradies can actually find Brisbane 2032 opportunities
Brisbane 2032-related procurement is not one portal. Official guidance points to multiple entities procuring different parts of the program:
- GIICA: procurement and delivery for the 17 new and upgraded venues (GIICA publishes procurement guidance and current tender activity).
- DSDIP: leading the Games Villages Program and monitoring the broader infrastructure portfolio (as described via official procurement guidance).
- The Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee (Games-time delivery): procurement for Games planning, event coordination, temporary venue infrastructure, and venue operations during Games time.
To surface and track opportunities:
- Use the Brisbane 2032 supplier portal on Gateway by ICN (the hub that aggregates work packages and EOIs).
- Subscribe to GIICA’s industry updates and check GIICA’s procurement page for “tenders in market” (these change).
- Watch Queensland Government procurement channels where relevant (official guidance notes the Queensland Procurement Policy applies across the Games procurement entities).
Timeline: what to expect between now and 2032 (high-level)
Queensland’s Delivery Plan site publishes an accessible milestone timeline.
| Window | What’s happening | Why it matters commercially |
|---|---|---|
| 2025–2026 | Governance milestones and procurement ramp-up; IOC sports confirmation slated for 2026 | Early movers get on bidder lists, get procurement-ready, tighten documentation and systems |
| 2026–2028 | Major design, early works, and construction ramp; labor competition likely intensifies | The “ready first” advantage is strongest: builders want fast starts and fewer admin delays |
| 2029–2031 | Delivery, commissioning, test events, operations readiness | Tight turnaround and compliance pressure increase as deadlines get closer |
| 2032 | Games operations | Many tradies won’t work Games-time ops, but the construction runway is the money window |
The site-doc reality: what builders will ask you for (and why SWMS is the fastest win)
On major sites, you’re not just selling your trade, you’re selling certainty. One of the most common friction points is documentation readiness for high risk construction work.
In Queensland, WorkSafe QLD states SWMS must be kept and available for inspection until at least the high risk construction work is completed. WorkSafe QLD also states the WHS Regulation identifies 18 activities as high-risk construction work (and that SWMS must be prepared before high-risk construction work is carried out).
At the national level, Safe Work Australia’s SWMS information sheet explains that SWMS are required for the 18 high-risk construction work activities in WHS Regulations, must be prepared before work starts, and notes a principal contractor must obtain the SWMS before high risk construction work on a construction project starts.
That combination matters for tradies bidding into large venue/civil work because it affects start dates and compliance checks.
A practical “site-doc pack” that covers common expectations typically includes:
- Trade-specific SWMS aligned to your scope (reviewed and job/site adjusted)
- Risk assessments where relevant
- Toolbox talk records (especially for repeating high-risk activities)
- Evidence of consultation / sign-off (workers and relevant parties)
If you want a fast refresher on the basics:
The 30–90 day plan to be “Brisbane 2032 ready” as a QLD tradie
This is the playbook for getting the upside without waiting for 2030 to “get serious.”
First, set up your opportunity pipeline:
- Create/refresh your supplier profile on the relevant portals (Gateway by ICN, plus GIICA procurement updates).
- Set alerts/notifications on work packages that match your scope.
- Build a one-page capability statement and a short “past projects” list (even if you’re small—official guidance encourages partial-scope suppliers and SMEs).
Second, remove your biggest friction point: site documentation speed.
- Standardize your SWMS for your most common high-risk activities and keep them review-ready (job-specific edits, current version control).
- Create a simple “site entry pack” folder you can email in five minutes (SWMS + risk docs + toolbox talk record templates).
- Decide your internal rule: “No SWMS, no start.” (That’s the easiest way to avoid last-minute panic and delayed site access.)
Download: Brisbane 2032 “Site Docs Readiness Pack” (QLD tradies)
If you want a ready-to-use starting kit, build a free download that includes:
- A one-page “EOI-ready checklist”
- A “site-doc pack checklist” (SWMS + supporting docs)
- A simple version-control and sign-off tracker
Download the Brisbane 2032 Site Docs Readiness Pack (QLD)
Disclaimer
This article is general information, not legal advice. Always check current regulator guidance and project/client requirements for your scope.
