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First Nations bid to halt Olympic stadium build

August 5, 2025

Brisbane’s planned Olympic stadium site has been hit with an application to stop development from an Aboriginal corporation.

The Yagara Magandjin Aboriginal Corporation has lodged the application stating it considers the proposed site “one of the city’s most important First Nations sites”.

Corporation spokesperson and Yagarabul elder Gaja Kerry Charlton told the ABC the group was “resolute” to protect the area.

“[Victoria Park] Barrambin is living Country … we know this place is of great significance and history … it was a complete shock when the premier came out with his stadium plans,” she said.

“We are very concerned there are ancient trees, artefacts and very important eco-systems existing there. There may be ancestral remains.”

The application was made under Section 10 of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act.

The decision over the application lies with the Federal environment minister, Murray Watt.

Peter Rowe

Peter Rowe leads First Nations News as Editor, with over three decades of experience across international newsrooms, digital platforms and media strategy roles. For the past 20 years, he’s worked in Australia – reporting, editing and advising on stories that shape public debate.