Rocky rowing course passes assessment ‘with flying colours’
The controversial Rockhampton Olympic rowing and canoe course has cleared a major hurdle, with Queensland Premier David Crisafulli telling parliament on Thursday it had been cleared by the sports’ world governing bodies.
Crisafulli said the WaterProof Marine Consultancy report, which was not tabled in parliament or released for independent verification, found the Fitzroy River course had passed the assessment “with flying colours”.
“It’s official,” he said. “Signed, sealed and delivered.”
But there were still some obstacles for the Rockhampton course to overcome. It still had to pass environmental assessments and Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority’s project validation report process was still ongoing.
“GIICA will now finalise the investigations to deliver the PVR to government in the coming months with concept design well advanced at 80 per cent complete,” an animated Bleijie told parliament.
Bleijie said the Fitzroy’s “secret weapon” was the Fitzroy River Barrage.
“It forms a distinct racing environment on the water, creating a mid-river dam separating the downstream tidal saltwater section from the upstream freshwater section, where the proposed course is to be located,” he said.
“Flow velocities are low, largely uniform throughout the course. Wind speeds are low, and vessel-generated waves dissipate rapidly.”
Both World Rowing and Paddle Worldwide had endorsed the report, Crisafulli said, which found the course could provide safe, fair and consistent field of play.
To drive that home, the Crisafulli government provided comments from the governing bodies’ presidents.
“Based on the extensive analysis undertaken, we now know the Fitzroy River is capable of providing fair competition conditions during the period of the Games, consistent with the requirements of Olympic and Paralympic Rowing,” World Rowing president Jean-Christophe Rolland said.
Paddle Worldwide president Thomas Konietzko said the report had allayed his sport’s concerns about the river course.
“The quality and depth of the technical work undertaken has significantly improved our understanding of the field of play and provides confidence to us and our athletes that the course can deliver fair competition for canoe sprint athletes,” he said.
“We look forward to maintaining our strong partnership and continuing to work together to deliver an outstanding Olympic and Paralympic competition venue in Rockhampton for 2032.”
Bleijie said the assessment included detailed riverbed surveys, analysis of river flows, water levels, and the Fitzroy Barrage operations, and assessment of wind, weather and environmental conditions during the Games.
“The assessment confirmed the location is capable of supporting a full-length international flatwater course and providing fair, consistent, and athlete-focused competition conditions for Olympic and Paralympic rowing and canoe sprint events for the games in 2032,” he said.
“The Fitzroy has the space for a full international standard course at 2.7 kilometres long section, providing sufficient distance for a standard 2000-metre rowing race.
“Full width of all eight lanes, with room for the necessary start and finish infrastructure. No widening, no dredging needed.”
Brisbane 2032 president Andrew Liveris said fair competition and “the highest field-of-play standards” were essential for the Games’ success.
“Thorough and robust assessment of the Fitzroy River course has proved fair and equal competitions can take place, which has led to positive endorsement by both international federations,” he said.
“The endorsement provides additional certainty as we move into the next phase of venue planning and Games delivery, ensuring all future design and operational work continues to focus solely on Rockhampton.”
GIICA chairman Stephen Conry said World Rowing’s and Paddle Worldwide’s endorsements of the Fitzroy River course was an important milestone.
“GIICA is working collaboratively with Brisbane 2032 and the international federations, while continuing validation assessments addressing venue requirements, design, risk mitigation and legacy outcomes,” he said.
“The legacy benefits of the Games go well beyond 2032 with venues such as the Fitzroy River Flatwater Facility unlocking many long-term economic and social benefits for Rockhampton and Central Queensland.”
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