Toowoomba – An Olympic City

25 MARCH 2025

As a region, we have worked very hard to advocate for the development of The Toowoomba Equestrian Centre at the Toowoomba Showgrounds, in a bid to host Brisbane 2032 equestrian events. The recommendation of the Games Independent Infrastructure Coordination Authority (GIICA) 100-day review committee was announced by Queensland Premier David Crisafulli in Brisbane today, with the Toowoomba Equestrian Centre at the Toowoomba Showgrounds on the list as a host venue for Brisbane 2032, marking a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Toowoomba region.

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 to bring the Olympics to Toowoomba.

“This is more than a couple of weeks of sport, this is lasting legacy for our region for decades to come.”

Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) have been working with the Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland (RASQ) for around 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 says the project will leave our 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 equestrian in Queensland and will be generationally meaningful for the Toowoomba Showgrounds.”

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 5 years will be in the vicinity of $6.8 million annually.

Mark Mason, TSBE’s Olympics Strategy Project Manager, said the region has 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.”

Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald said the announcement is a watershed moment.

“The eyes of the world will be on us, and it is incredible to think Olympic glory will be won and awarded right here in Toowoomba.”