On Wednesday 17 September 2025, the Committee for Brisbane hosted Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner to outline his vision for the future of the city.

The lunch, supported by Major Sponsor, Dexus and Support Sponsor, Healthy Land & Water provided members the opportunity to hear firsthand from our city’s leader during this time of change and prosperity.

The event also saw a special performance from the extraordinary Brisbane Festival program for 2025.

During his speech, a number of things were clear:

• Ahead of record growth and the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Brisbane is at its most unique moment in history.
• Liveability, inclusion and prosperity will be critical for Greater Brisbane.
• Supporting this vision will be not only a thriving inner city but all of Brisbane’s social, cultural and economic eco-systems working together.

See photos of the event here.

Major sponsor

Support sponsor

Suburban Renewal Precincts project

A related Lord Mayoral announcement at the event included the next stage of Brisbane City Council’s Suburban Renewal Precincts project. This next phase is aimed at enabling density in proximity to Indooroopilly and Carindale shopping centres, as well as Nundah Village.

• Indooroopilly Shopping Centre- new homes close to the railway station and shops.
• Westfield Carindale Shopping Centre- housing opportunities around the bus interchange and retail hub.
• Nundah Village- housing opportunities centred on the village precinct and train station.

The project commenced in 2022, and includes Alderley, Stones Corner, Wynnum and Mt Gravatt.

Work on the changes around the three suburban centres will now begin, with community consultation expected in 2026.

For more information please visit the Brisbane City Council website.

Riverstage upgrades

Another event-related announcement were Expressions of Interest (EOIs) to operate and upgrade Brisbane’s popular Riverstage.

Venue operators will be asked to submit options to transform the Riverstage with new and improved facilities along with state-of-the-art sound management.

The Riverstage will remain owned by Brisbane City Council and available for community events.

The Riverstage was built in 1989 and has attracted a range of local and international artists. There were 38 events held in the past financial year, which attracted around 245,000 people.

The partnership aims to future-proof the venue ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

For further information please visit Council’s Riverstage website.

A joint freight priorities survey has opened, which is co-led between the Queensland Transport and Logistics Council (QTLC) in partnership with the Infrastructure Association of Queensland (IAQ) and the Committee for Brisbane.

The aim of the survey is to understand freight impacts and opportunities around the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond.

The 10 minute survey covers:

• Concerns you have regarding freight disruption/congestion/other leading up to, during and post the Games
• Novel methods or examples where the above disruptions and issues have been handled (i.e. in other events, jurisdictions etc).
• Any plans or investment you have that will assist and/or be impacted by the Games
• Legacy infrastructure requirements.
• Any work that you/others have done to prepare.

For further information and the survey itself please see here.

The Queensland Government has appointed Arup as the principal contractor for the Victoria Park Precinct Master Plan, while Expressions of Interest remain open for principal architects for Brisbane Stadium and the National Aquatic Centre.

The first phase of the detailed master-planning process for the Victoria Park Precinct (VPP) is the development of the Infrastructure Structure Plan, which includes technical site investigations, planning and design the major pieces of connectivity, and public realm infrastructure to support infrastructure delivery.

During the 2032 Games, the precinct and stadium will host the opening and closing ceremonies, and is within walking distance of the Brisbane Athletes Village, accommodating more than 10,000 athletes and officials during the Olympic Games and over 5,000 during the Paralympic Games.

For more information visit here.

Brisbane City Council has announced catalytic plans for further river activation through tourism, hospitality and other commercialisation opportunities on the Brisbane River.

There are currently eight Council-owned river pontoons, and most of the sites are designed for short-term recreation such as kayaking and drop-offs.

This initiative is in response to an increasing demand for operators to better use these facilities, and includes the opportunity for new infrastructure where needed and a licensing system that encourages investment, pending State Government approval.

A review is now underway consider the future use of the eight pontoons as well as the former Gardens Point marina moorings near the City Botanic Gardens.

The Committee for Brisbane remains strongly focused on river and waterway activation, and further maximising this city’s great asset.

On Thursday 18 September, the Committee for Brisbane’s digital and other cross-sector stakeholders came together to shape a digital infrastructure legacy for Greater Brisbane.

Hosted by AECOM, the workshop focused on six key topic areas:

• Leadership
• Policy, governance and procurement excellence
• Industry capability and collaboration
• Design and infrastructure
• Showcasing digital
• Digital inclusion.

With the 2032 Games approaching, and other anticipated growth for the region, embedding digital ideas- and practical actions- across these focus areas will be paramount.

The Committee for Brisbane looks forward to sharing more in the digital space.

Thank you Prof. Tim Kastelle, Neil Glentworth, Dr Anne Kovachevich, our hosts AECOM, Workshop Partners Council of Mayors (SEQ) and all our attendees for kickstarting this discussion.

See photos of the workshop here. 

Event Supported By

Event Hosted By

This week, we had the privilege of hosting a special lunch to celebrate the long-term commitment of our life members- individuals whose dedication and contribution have helped shape the Committee (and its predecessor, the BDA) over the many years since its establishment in 1957.

It was an afternoon filled with rich conversation, laughter, and reflection as guests shared favourite memories, defining moments, and proud achievements. From milestones in advocacy to behind-the-scenes triumphs, every story spoke to the enduring impact of this community.

The discussion also looked ahead, with members offering insights into the key challenges and opportunities facing Greater Brisbane, along with the important role civic leadership plays in shaping our city-region.

We are grateful for the wisdom, experience, and passion of our life members. Their perspectives continue to guide and inspire the future direction of our work.

Thank you also to our current President Mike Kissane and the team at Deloitte for hosting this special event.

Here’s to the journey so far – and the important work still to come.

The Council of Mayors (South-East Queensland) has celebrated 20 years of regional leadership, bringing together local government, industry, and research to reflect on its legacy and to look ahead to the transformational decade leading to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Held at Howard Smith Wharves, the Local Government Forum was a powerful demonstration of the Council of Mayor’s continued commitment to strategic collaboration and long-term planning. For two decades, the Council of Mayors (SEQ) has played a pivotal role in uniting the region’s councils to drive collective priorities—from infrastructure and transport to economic development and sustainability.

Committee for Brisbane CEO, Jen Williams, joined a panel of regional thought leaders including Simon Crooks (GIICA CEO) and Dr. Stefan Hajkowicz (CSIRO Chief Research Consultant), to explore the region’s long-term potential and the critical role of innovation, leadership, and integrated planning.

The event reinforced the importance of public-private collaboration in achieving regional outcomes. It also served as a reminder that South East Queensland’s success lies in maintaining a shared vision, strategic alignment, and a commitment to future-focused investment.

The Forum also highlighted the significant opportunities on the horizon.

The Committee for Brisbane congratulates the Council of Mayors (SEQ) on this important milestone and looks forward to continuing to work together in advancing regional prosperity and delivering a lasting legacy for the communities of SEQ.

The Brisbane Lions have claimed their back-to-back AFL Grand Final win over Geelong.

This has been a stunning victory for the Lions- winning 122 points to 75- and doing Brisbane proud.

With the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games preparations underway, the Lions have been a reminder of the future civic pride that’s in store for Brisbane at this unique moment.

We wish the Brisbane Broncos all the best for this weekend’s NRL Grand Final.

Congratulations to the Brisbane Lions!

From 9 to 12 October 2025, Brisbane Writers Festival (BWF) will take place for the first time at the Brisbane Powerhouse.

The 2025 program includes more than 100 live events, including panel discussions, author talks and many other conversations.

There are over 200 artists this year and, with over half being from Queensland, this year’s program will showcase the talents of Greater Brisbane and beyond.

For the event program and other 2025 festival details please visit here.

In the last week of October 2025, the Committee for Brisbane will join other members of the Committee for Capital Cities (CfCC) for a series of events and meetings in Canberra.

The CfCC is a network of the key civic advocacy groups across Australia’s capital cities, including the Committees for Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Greater Hobart, and Sydney.

As advocates for Australia’s capital cities, the CfCC works together to comprehensively advocate for local, state, and federal policy settings that enable our cities to thrive and prosper.

Our headline event is ‘From Ambition to Action – Improving the Lives of Our Communities and for Generations to Come’, exploring how cities can pave the way for a vibrant, prosperous and sustainable future.

• Date: 30 October 2025
• Time: 10:00am – 11:30am
• Location: Great Hall, Parliament House Canberra
• Attendees: 200+ Politicians, staffers and Members of the Committees for Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart.

For registration and other details please click the following link.