Ambitious bid to transform Rockhampton with 2032 Olympic legacy
Rockhampton’s mayor has declared the Beef Capital cannot waste the “golden opportunity” for international recognition ahead of the Olympics, revealing his vision to transform the town.
New CBD hotels, more accommodation, a major upgrade to the ageing showgrounds and a first-class rowing complex are high on the 2032 Olympic Games legacy priority list for the Rockhampton Region.
Mayor Tony Williams unveiled the Rockhampton 2032 campaign plan on Wednesday as the regional council took a flying leap out of the Games’ preparation starting blocks.
Cr Williams said he was fully confident the rowing course at the Fitzroy River Barrage would get final Games approval’ later this month, or early 2026, but wasn't waiting around for the starter’s gun to begin.
“I’m taking it as done (approved) already but it still needs the International Olympic Rowing Committee to have their final say,” he said.
“Everything is indicating that this is happening so it’s time to start this discussion now about the legacy opportunities and see that happens.”
The priorities outlined in the plan include delivering a first-class rowing facility to remain in use after the Games, redeveloping the Rockhampton Showgrounds into a modern, major events venue, revitalising the Rockhampton CBD and securing a commitment to make the Games’ medals with minerals from the Mount Morgan mine.
Cr Williams said hosting the 2032 Olympic rowing events represented a “golden opportunity” for the region and he wanted “to grab it with both hands”.
“I want us to use this to make Rockhampton the natural location where international, national and state rowing championships and team training is held. I want us to use this to renew our local infrastructure and leave a lasting legacy for Rockhampton after the Games,” he said.
“I want us to use this to attract new hotels and accommodation and give our city and region the boost it needs to continue to be the major event location we have made ourselves. I want us to use this to revitalise our CBD and city and show the world how good Rockhampton is to visit.
“We don’t want to see 2033 come up on us and think, ‘boy oh boy, what more could we have done to maximise this opportunity’.”
Cr Williams said there was currently a 1200 bed short-term accommodation deficiency in the city which was amplified when it hosted major events such as Beef Australia and Rockynats.
“On our beautiful foreshore here on the Fitzroy River you can see accommodation and opportunities as there are many blocks of vacant land in this area,” he said.
“If we can lift higher high-density accommodation into the CBD through the Games, what better opportunity than we’ve got in front of us right now.”
Cr Williams wants to turn back the clock using Rockhampton history as a port city which included over a century of rowing on the river.
He said this would provide a new look and feel for the CBD with signage and a history walk while also improving access from the river for visiting yachties.
That would involve working with that state government to secure funding for a CBD berth for blue nomads so they can sail up river from the coast and access the city via the river.
He will also be pushing for direct flights from Sydney to Rockhampton.
The plan also identified the Games Athletes’ Village at the old railyards as a site of strategic importance and highlighted the need to repurpose the Village for future legacy use such as dormitory-style accommodation to support the region’s regular defence exercises and major events.
He said the Rockhampton 2032 plan included upgrading the Rockhampton Showgrounds which was located 500m from the rowing course, providing an opportune site for event marshalling, storage, broadcasting and other facilities for the Games.
Beef Australia’s Simon Irwin said much of the showground infrastructure was at the end-of-life phase and needed upgrading to keep pace with the increasing popularity of major events.
Cr Williams said he had written to Premier David Crisafulli outlining the “four pillars” approach and what the Games legacy could look like.
He also spoke to Rockhampton MP Donna Kirkland on Tuesday, before the announcement.
“She was very enthusiastic and supportive of the project,” Cr Williams said.
“That’s a great start and where we start to bring the community along into that discussion there and see what opportunities we can do to maximise the legacy from the 2032 Games and what we can see with levels of government, how they can work and start to think about the opportunities.”
He said each of the four priorities had been developed with careful consideration to how it aligned with the expected infrastructure needs and logistics of the Games event and how the state government, Games delivery agencies, council and stakeholders can work together to ensure that the Games give a long-term benefit to the region.
He has also written to the CQ32 Rowing Legacy Advisory Committee, including local members of parliament, rowing clubs and tourism bodies.
