First look at $257 million Chandler Olympic precinct

In addition to the new indoor sports hall, improvements will be made to the on-site Brisbane Aquatic Centre, which hosted swimming competitions at the 1982 Commonwealth Games.

There will also be general precinct improvements, such as better access and lighting, a new green hub with gathering and meeting spaces, and better connectivity between buildings.

Tenders for the work have gone to market, and more than 70 businesses attended a recent project briefing.

Funded from the federal and state governments’ $1.87 billion minor venues program, the Chandler upgrades were expected to create 210 jobs during construction.

State Development and Infrastructure Minister Grace Grace said work at the site would “underline [Chandler’s] status as Queensland’s biggest and most diverse multi-sports hub for both community and elite-level sports”.

“We’re still more than eight years out from the Games, and we’re already getting ready to deliver sports facilities that will be in community use well before our international guests arrive,” she said.

Work at the aquatic centre will include seat replacement, external cladding, an acoustic ceiling and insulation, roof remediation, and improvements to the lighting and public announcement systems.

Swimming Queensland chief executive Kevin Hasemann, who recently helped co-ordinate mining billionaire Gina Rinehart’s campaign to remove an unflattering portrait from the National Gallery, said the improvements would guarantee a “continuation” of swimming’s 45-year history at the venue for decades.

“Since the 2000 Sydney Olympics, 39 Queensland swimmers have won a staggering 55 Olympic gold medals in individual and relay events. Ten of those swimmers won 15 individual Olympic titles,” he said.

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“This record is probably unmatched around the world, and every one of those champion swimmers learnt and refined the art of racing right here at Chandler.”

Almost half of Brisbane 2032’s minor venues, which will soon transfer to the new independent Games Venue and Legacy Delivery Authority, were expected to be out to market by the end of 2024.

Work at Chandler was due to start in 2025 and be completed by 2027 – five years before the Games.

The Australian Swimming Trials, which will act as the sole selection meet for the Dolphins team to compete at Paris 2024, will be held at Chandler between June 10 and 15.