Troubled waters at other venue make Brisbane plan ‘critical’, say athletes
Australia only has one purpose-built whitewater facility for paddle sports. Those sports are determined to use Brisbane 2032 to deliver another.
The proposed Redland Whitewater Centre.
Australia’s paddlers have urged Brisbane 2032 to stick with its plans for a bayside whitewater centre, despite local – and vocal – opposition to the facility.
In their submission to the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority’s 100-day infrastructure review, Paddle Australia and Paddle Queensland argue the planned Redland Whitewater Centre was essential for their sports’ growth.
Of the sports that fall under Paddle Australia’s auspices, canoe sprint (flatwater) and canoe slalom (whitewater) feature in Olympic competition.
If built, the Redland Whitewater Centre would be only Australia’s second such facility. The first, the Penrith Whitewater Centre, was built for the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
In the submission, PA and PQ emphasise the importance of two world-class venues in Australia, to accommodate both elite and grassroots whitewater disciplines.
“We are constantly challenged as a sport by consistent water quality (blue algae) issues at Penrith Whitewater Centre,” they write.
“An alternative venue for international and domestic events and activities is critical.”
But the Redlands proposal is not without its critics. A vocal group of local community groups have campaigned against the whitewater centre, and lodged their objections to the GIICA review panel.
Earlier, a 2023 petition to the Queensland parliament calling for the Redland Whitewater Centre to be scrapped attracted 2574 signatures.
Paddle Australia chief executive Andrew Trim, who lived in the Redlands for several years, said he was not surprised by the opposition.
But Trim said he suspected more in the community would support the project than not.
An overview of the Birkdale Community Precinct planned to house the Redlands Whitewater Centre.Credit: Redland City Council
Last May, two months after the new Redland City Council was elected, it passed a resolution supporting the centre, which could also be used to train emergency services personnel to conduct flood rescues.
“I think the council has done a terrific job of engaging the community,” Trim said.
“They did it really, really well, and they did it early, and they engaged the community, and we got a really good response. I was in a number of community meetings down there where people were really enthusiastic.
“I think there is always opposition to change, to growth, to infrastructure.”
In their submission, Paddle Australia and Paddle Queensland note the “popularity and demand for whitewater access off the back of the sport’s most successful Olympic Games result in Paris 2024”.
There, sisters Jessica and Noemie Fox won three gold medals between them which, Paddle Australia and Paddle Queensland say, “without doubt inspired the nation”.
Jessica Fox of Team Australia competing in the Canoe Slalom at Paris 2024.Credit: Francois Nel/Getty Images
And the local organisations also have the backing of the Swiss-based International Canoe Federation, which made its own submission to the review team.
“The Redlands Whitewater Park is much more than a canoe slalom course,” the ICF says.
“It represents an opportunity to integrate sport, community, and the environment in a way that delivers transformative outcomes.
“Drawing from countless other examples of whitewater facilities globally … we see this project as a keystone for sustainable urban development and community enrichment.”
In its submission, the ICF tells GIICA the Redlands Whitewater Park would “become a world-renowned facility” if it went ahead.
“By hosting global competitions, nurturing elite athletes, and captivating young paddlers, it will further elevate Australia’s position on the international sporting stage while providing immense local benefits,” the ICF says.
“The park’s strategic location and comprehensive design will ensure it becomes a cornerstone of Australia’s sporting and cultural landscape for decades to come.”
Trim said Australia would be able to attract more international competitions if it had a facility to complement Penrith.
A concept image rendering of the proposed whitewater facility in Redland City, earmarked for the Olympic canoe slalom events, from March 2021.Credit: Redland City Council
“To have two venues that we could have world-class events would open up the opportunity for us to have back-to-back events,” he said.
“If you’ve got to go to one country for one event on the other side of the world, it’s hard to get Europeans to make that commitment. So from a high-level perspective, those events that would attract more world-class events to the country.”
Trim said to have such a facility in a suburban area, within greater Brisbane, would allow more people to take up paddle sports.
“You can get there from Brisbane on the train in 40 minutes. Everything about it is good. There’s a sound financial model. The whole thing stacks up,” he said.
“It’s probably one of the great opportunities we have for the Olympics to get a genuine legacy venue that’ll exist for 30, 40, or 50 years.”
As for the flatwater events, current plans have Wyaralong Dam, about 14 kilometres north-west of Beaudesert, hosting canoe and rowing events at 2032.
Paddle Australia and Paddle Queensland offered four potential sites for canoe sprint events – Wyaralong Dam, Hinze Dam on the Gold Coast, Damian Leeding Memorial Park at Coomera or Lake Kurwongbah near Petrie.
Of all these, Trim said Hinze Dam was their preferred location.
“From my understanding, there was never a serious feasibility study undertaken on it and I don’t understand why.
“I can’t get an answer as to why, and I can’t get an answer as to why it’s only been locked down as Wyaralong, so I think a serious feasibility study of Hinze would be the best outcome.”
The UK Coxless Four rowing team in training on Hinze Dam before the Sydney 2000 Olympics.Credit: John Giles/PA Images
Importantly, both Hinze Dam and Wyaralong were large enough to also accommodate rowing events during the Games.
Rowing Australia has also made a submission to GIICA, but declined to share it “out of respect for that [review] process”. However, a spokesman said RA was supportive of Paddle Australia’s contribution.
“RA’s consistent objective has been to secure a venue that enables the development of a 2000-metre course, with eight to 10 lanes, with appropriate permanent infrastructure that provides a legacy home for rowing in Queensland beyond the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” he said.
“RA is aware of the submission from Paddle Australia and considers the issues raised in respect to shared venue locations are well made and worthy of further investigation.”
Trim said he had enjoyed the review process and, from his meeting and dealing with GIICA, was satisfied the panel had the best interests of the state – and the Olympics – at heart.
“They asked really good questions. They were open to suggestions and ideas, and they were not being influenced by anything other than what is the best outcome for the state and we can live with that.
“I think it was a really good open discussion and they are genuinely people who were concerned about getting it right.”
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