
REDLANDS mayor Karen Williams says today is a historic day for south-east Queensland, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announcing the state will make an official bid for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Ms Palaszczuk said that cabinet would continue to work towards securing the games, which could deliver significant economic and community benefits.
"This is about so much more than a few weeks of sport," she said.
"Hosting the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics could be a game changer and deliver 20 years of accelerated opportunity for our state.
"There's more work to do to ensure we are in a position to put a compelling case to the International Olympic Committee."
More than 80 per cent of venues exist already across the state. The Games could create 130,000 jobs and boost international tourism spending by more than $20 billion.
The region would host about 11,000 athletes from 206 countries, with the Games set to attract an estimated television audience of 3.2 billion.
Cr Williams said for smaller councils like the Redlands, the event could be a catalyst for the delivery of critical transport infrastructure like the Eastern Busway and Cleveland rail duplication.
"We also have other opportunities to explore, with Moreton Bay and our highly rated network of cycling tracks and trails also attractive assets," she said.
Council was undertaking a feasibility study into an Olympic standard white-water rafting and kayak facility.
"(It) would come with a significant opportunity for white-water emergency training and an education partnership with Queensland emergency services organisations, as well as adventure tourism and recreational activities, that would keep delivering economic benefits long after the Games ended," she said.
"Council will now continue its precinct feasibility analysis and stakeholder discussions before bringing a detailed proposal to council and to the community. We will also continue to assess potential sites."
Ms Palaszczuk said the next stage was to secure financial agreement between all levels of government.