Secrecy over Olympic rowing course fuels south-east rower backlash
The Queensland government took a victory lap of Rockhampton on Friday, celebrating the previous day’s announcement in parliament that the contentious Olympic rowing course had received international sign-off.
Premier David Crisafulli told state parliament on Thursday the Fitzroy River course had passed technical assessment “with flying colours” but did not table the report, nor did his government – or the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority – release it for public scrutiny.
QRowunion chairman Gary Merritt said that raised suspicions, and harked back to what he said were premature remarks by Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie earlier this year.
“If you cherry-pick quotes out of a report and don’t release the whole report, you have every right to be suspicious,” Merritt said.
“I’m sure there is a lot more to what’s going on. This government pulled the same stunt back in March and announced it was all signed, sealed and delivered.
“They’ve done the same again now.”
Visiting the Fitzroy River site on Friday morning, Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg defended the secrecy around the WaterProof Marine Consultancy assessment.
“It’s not our report. It’s actually a report done for the Games themselves,” he said.
“I make the observation that it does, however, provide the certainty for us to be able to move forward and deliver exactly what we said we would do, which is rowing here [in Rockhampton].”
Alongside Mickelberg was Fitzroy Canoe Club president Andrew Miller, who said holding Olympic and Paralympic events would be a boon for the Central Queensland city.
“It’s great for us and, yes, for our sisters and brothers in the rowing,” he said.
“It’s great for us in [course] infrastructure, but I tell you where it’s great – it’s great for this whole community.
“As a local businessman, for all businesses, commerce, for everybody in this whole region, the self-esteem and what this will bring to this area is massive.”
Merritt said he did not begrudge those celebrations.
“Make no mistake, it is good for Rocky, and we applaud their joyous reaction,” he said.
“But what’s good for Rocky is very, very bad for the community of rowers in south-east Queensland.”
Merritt said there were 5000 rowers in the south-east, compared with 150 in Rockhampton. Merritt, along with the majority of the rowing community, has been enthusiastic supporters of Moreton Bay’s push to convert a decommissioned quarry at Lawnton into a purpose-built course as part of a wider rejuvenation project.
“The government is winning votes in Rocky, but they are losing votes big time in south-east Queensland,” he said.
“They must have done their numbers and know how it’s going to work out, but there are a lot of people who have contacted me and said they will not vote for this government after the arrogance, the way they’ve handled the debate and their refusal to even entertain any sort of review.”
Local MP Donna Kirkland, a member of the LNP state government, said Rockhampton had a reputation for proving people wrong – and that would be the case with the “naysayers” opposed to the Central Queensland plan.
“We knew right from the very outset this facility was world-class, and indeed now we can tell everybody it is confirmed there were no issues with any of those technicalities that were furphies coming out in the media,” she said.
Mickelberg shrugged off concerns, most commonly from international observers, about the known crocodile population in the Fitzroy River. This weekend’s Queensland Schools’ Championship Regatta has crocodile protocols in place to prevent potential tragedy.
“If it’s good enough for kids in Rocky and Central Queensland to row on the Fitzroy, it’s good enough for those Olympic athletes as well,” he said.
“Obviously, all of those considerations will be addressed and appropriate safeguards are in place and will be in place for a successful event in 2032.”
Comment has been sought from both World Rowing and Paddle Worldwide, the two sports’ governing bodies, and the International Olympic Committee.
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