Updated ,first published
A south-east Queensland council will push on with plans for a purpose-built rowing facility for Brisbane 2032, despite the deputy premier’s threats that Olympic competition would be held in Rockhampton, or not at all.
The City of Moreton Bay has formally put forward plans for a new rowing venue at what is currently a quarry in Lawnton, just north of Brisbane, on Wednesday.
Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery said it should be seriously considered, as doubts continue to swirl over the Fitzroy River’s suitability for Olympic competition.
“This is not about a single moment in 2032. It is about creating infrastructure that is used every day, supports future generations, and leaves Queensland stronger long after the Games are over,” he said.
“Our proposal provides the International Olympic Committee, and the state and federal governments, a cost-effective, ready-made solution to keep rowing in Queensland.
“Having an international standard flatwater rowing and paddle sports venue in the heart of south-east Queensland, with prime public transport access via Petrie rail station, approximately a half-hour to Brisbane CBD via train and under 40 minutes to Brisbane Airport, is a no-brainer.”
At its weekly meeting on Wednesday, the council committed to supporting the development of the precinct with site owner Boral, which helped develop the Penrith Lakes facility used in the Sydney 2000 Games.
“The whole site will be further reimagined to include additional recreation and sporting facilities, an urban koala reserve, pedestrian connections to our 2032 Olympic and Paralympic venue, the Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre, as well as an exciting new lakeside residential community to alleviate the City’s chronic undersupply of housing,” Flannery said.
“We are serious. This is about putting forward a credible and well-developed proposal, strongly supported by sporting bodies, delivery partners and athletes, focused on doing what is right for the sport and for Queensland’s legacy beyond the Games.”
With testing of the Fitzroy River being undertaken by the Games Independent Infrastructure Coordination Authority, the Moreton Bay plan emerged out of the blue.
But deputy premier Jarrod Bleijie dismissed the idea out of hand, and said he had already told Flannery no other options were being considered.
“The Queensland government has decided where the venues are through our 2032 delivery plan, and that’s where they are — it’s not changing,” he said.
When it was put to him that the host contract dictated the International Olympic Committee has final approval for the venues, Bleijie said the government would not budge.
“Rowing is going to be in Rocky. If they don’t want it in Rocky, it ain’t happening,” he said.
“That’s a big call for the IOC, so I think they should just proceed.”
Asked if he was threatening to cancel the rowing if the IOC did not agree to host it in Rockhampton, he said he “didn’t say that”.
Bleijie said early results from the GIICA testing were positive.
“I’ve had no indication that there would be anything but support for rowing in Rocky from the International Federation [of Rowing] or the IOC,” he said.
A Rowing Australia spokesperson said they could not comment on the proposal at this time.
The Crisafulli government’s Rockhampton gambit went against GIICA’s 100-day review, which recommended Olympic rowing be held in Penrith.
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