'Our biggest concern': Swimming Australia boss doubles down in bid for $650 million Brisbane 2032 legacy venue

The chief executive of Swimming Australia has doubled down in his bid to have a new $650 million aquatic centre built in Brisbane as he envisions an Olympic and Paralympic legacy that endures for decades.

And only if that proposal is given the green light would Swimming Australia boss Rob Woodhouse be OK with Brisbane 2032 swimming being held in a drop-in pool.

The national governing bodies for swimming, artistic swimming, water polo and diving co-signed and delivered a submission to the Queensland government's 100-day infrastructure review, the results of which will be revealed on March 25.

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Everyone will then know which venues will host which sports, and the builders will get on with building.

It's already certain that a multi-purpose venue called Brisbane Arena will be built, whether on Roma Street or elsewhere, which will receive a $2.5 billion backing by the federal government.

But it's not certain whether a drop-in pool will be plonked into the arena to host Brisbane 2032 swimming, or if swimming will be held elsewhere.

Swimming Australia and its allies are lobbying for the proposed $650 million aquatic centre to be built at Victoria Park, which in legacy mode would be used for learn-to-swim classes, school carnivals and world championships, and become the new home of the four national aquatic bodies.

The submission, which is backed by the Australian Olympic and Paralympic Committees, also pushes for the existing Centenary Pool complex at Victoria Park to receive an upgrade.

"I have no issue with drop-in pools. It's more about legacy; that's our biggest concern," Woodhouse told Wide World of Sports.

"Paris [2024] was in a drop-in pool, but they also built a brand-new aquatic centre which was used for diving and artistic swimming and water polo, and it's now being used for swimming ... So there was a legacy stadium, an aquatics centre, built for the Paris Olympics."

Paris 2024 swimming was held in a drop-in pool at the La Defense Arena, the home of rugby club Racing 92.

But a new aquatic centre worth a reported $300 million was built as a legacy venue.

The state-of-the-art facility will host the European swimming championships in 2026.

"... So if there was something like that I'd be all for it," Woodhouse added.

"But the bottom line is they're talking about swimming being in a drop-in pool in the arena, or potentially elsewhere, and no aquatic facilities being built.

"That gives the aquatic sports and the community, that are interested in swimming, zero legacy out of the Games, and this Games is supposed to be about legacy.

"... If we're looking at legacy out of the Games for the community, the community use of an aquatic centre and [the role] swimming plays is huge, and that ongoing use for 40, 50, 60 years is absolutely critical from a community point of view, and it also provides our high-performance teams with a world-class facility that can be ongoing, not just for training but for international competition."

Quizzed on how talks with key people were faring, Woodhouse said discussions had not been "discouraging" but also admitted they had not been "encouraging".

A review commissioned by the former Queensland government recommended a new $3.4 billion stadium be built at Victoria Park, which would stage athletics during the Games and host Brisbane Lions matches and international cricket for decades.

Australian Athletics was vocal in its support of a plan put forward by the previous Queensland government for the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (QSAC) in Nathan, which was used for the 1982 Commonwealth Games, to receive a $1.6 billion makeover and host track and field at Brisbane 2032.

But David Crisafulli, who took over from Steven Miles as Queensland's premier in October, has been scolding of that plan and declared it would not see the light of day.

Unlike Swimming Australia and the other national aquatic bodies, Australian Athletics is remaining tight-lipped on its new hopes after its original wishes were blown away.

Asked if he thought Swimming Australia was jostling with the AFL and Cricket Australia, and potentially Australian Athletics, in its bid for a new $650 million aquatic centre to be built at Victoria Park, Woodhouse said: "No, I don't think it's a battle at all".

"I think we're focusing on what is needed for the aquatic sports," Woodhouse added.

"Athletics certainly want some kind of legacy from the Games ... Clearly the Lions and the AFL and Cricket Queensland and Cricket Australia are looking for a new stadium, as well.

"There's probably nothing that's been discussed that isn't worthy and worthwhile."

Australian Paralympic champion Tim Hodge, who won gold in the 200m individual medley in Paris, said a new $650 million aquatic centre was critical for those with disabilities.

"A lot of the centres [in Australia] are decades old. Particularly for para-athletes, it means there's poor accessibility and a lack of lane space, especially a lack of modern features, which is what we need at the moment if we want to be competitive in the swimming world, particularly in the para-world, which unfortunately is something we're fighting for," Hodge told Wide World of Sports.

"So to have a state-of-the-art facility that caters for both able-bodied and Paralympic programs would be worth its weight in gold."

Asked for his view on drop-in pools, Hodge reiterated the need for a legacy venue.

"Drop-in pools are a good idea insofar as reducing cost, but it also makes the presumption that the existing venues are suitable for everyday function, I guess. And unfortunately at the moment it's increasingly trending more towards not being suitable," the Sydney product said.

"... The real need is for permanent, up-to-date infrastructure that caters for particularly people with impairments.

"As much as money is being saved with a drop-in pool, maybe a little bit more money needs to go to more accessible facilities."