Rowers v crocs and currents – but no Plan B for Olympic rowing venue
The state government is sticking by a controversial site slated to host the Olympic rowing in 2032, ahead of an inspection by the sport’s world body.
The state government is standing by its choice of a crocodile habitat as Brisbane’s Olympic rowing venue as world officials prepare to assess the controversial site.
Olympic Minister Tim Mander insists the 2032 rowing event will be held on central Queensland’s Fitzroy River, with an official site inspection by the sport’s world body just weeks away.
Brisbane Games boss Andrew Liveris took centre stage this week as he announced the first major corporate sponsor, unveiling the Commonwealth Bank as a founding partner.
But attention later turned to the Fitzroy River, which has come under scrutiny since it was announced by the state government as the Games rowing venue a year ago.
The crocodile habitat is known for its strong currents, leading the likes of triple Olympic gold medallist Drew Ginn to suggest competitors could be disadvantaged by their lane placement.
While the river has hosted major regattas before, including the 2009 Australian Masters, the sport’s governing body is yet to fully endorse the location for Olympic events.
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A World Rowing expert is set to arrive at the Rockhampton venue in the coming weeks to officially assess the river, concluding their investigation by June.
Olympic Minister Tim Mander on Thursday said there was no Plan B.
He said there was nothing unusual about World Rowing’s investigation, and the suitability of all venues was being assessed.
“There’s not one thing that they’ve said that would give us concern with regard to going forward,” he said.
“We are committed to it, we’re not looking at alternatives. The rowing will be at Rockhampton.”
Ginn was recently among more than 500 rowers who signed an open letter to the state government asking for the rowing to be held in southeast Queensland.
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An alternative proposal at Moreton Bay, north of Brisbane, is being promoted by the local council as a world‑standard course at roughly half the cost of Rockhampton’s site.
Asked if it was irresponsible not to consider an alternative rowing site, Mander said: “There’s no reason to be looking at alternatives when you have the level of confidence that we have.”
Liveris unveiled the sponsor alongside swimming great Ian Thorpe, champion slalom canoeist Jess Fox, Paralympic wheelchair basketballer Tristan Knowles and sprinter Calab Law in Brisbane.
Fox said it was not up to athletes to decide when asked if she shared concerns of other rowers regarding the Fitzroy River.
“I think athletes understand that those decisions lie with the Organising Committee and the governing sporting bodies,” she said.
“We can put on a great show and I know they’ll be the best conditions wherever we end up.”
Liveris announced the founding partner alongside Commonwealth Bank CEO Matt Comyn, who remained tight lipped about the sponsorship’s dollar value.
“Under anyone’s definition, it’s a sizeable investment,” Comyn said.
-with AAP
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