This week I was in Brisbane flying the flag for the Whitsundays at the Delivering 2032 Queensland Infrastructure Summit, a gathering of government, industry and local leaders focused on one thing: turning the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games into a legacy that lasts generations.
For us here in the Whitsundays, these conversations are more than just capital city talk. I am passionate about ensuring regional Queensland, and especially the Whitsundays, is not left on the sidelines but right at the heart of funding and planning discussions.
We are proud to be the Home of Olympic Sailing for 2032, and I want to again thank the Crisafulli Government for its vision and support in confirming that the world’s best sailors will compete right here in our own backyard. That decision is a once in a lifetime opportunity to showcase the Whitsundays on the global stage.
But the real opportunity lies beyond race week, in the long-term investment and legacy infrastructure that will help our region grow stronger and more connected. Now is the time to secure the roads, ports, housing and community facilities that will serve locals long after the Games are over.
At the Summit, I joined Mayors, Ministers and industry leaders to discuss the projects that will define Queensland’s future: smarter transport links, resilient regional roads, sustainable water and energy systems, and the new digital tools helping deliver them faster and more efficiently. These are the building blocks of thriving, future ready communities like ours.
The Whitsundays already has the natural stage, with 74 islands, world class waters and a welcoming spirit, but to seize the 2032 moment we need the right supporting cast: upgraded precincts, affordable housing, better regional connectivity, and pathways that give our young people the skills and opportunities to be part of this growth.
What I value most about forums like this is that they put regional voices in the room. They remind decision makers that a lasting Olympic legacy must reach far beyond Brisbane, into places like Bowen, Airlie Beach, Proserpine and Collinsville, where investment can truly transform lives for generations.
The Games will come and go in a fortnight, but the legacy we build can last for decades. My focus is making sure the Whitsundays is ready, not just to host the world, but to thrive long after the sails come down.
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