Greenbank to be home to state’s newest Olympic-standard whitewater park
Queensland’s Olympic bid was given a boost today when the location of the state’s newest whitewater park and elite athlete facility, was revealed.
Logan
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QUEENSLAND’S Olympic bid was given a boost today when the location of the state’s newest whitewater park was revealed.
A large block of land at Greenbank, in Logan, has been chosen for the whitewater park, which is expected to become an adventure destination, attracting elite athletes from all over the world.
If selected, it could also become an Olympic venue, as it will be built to host elite athletes and events.
The $65 million water park, referred to as the Logan West Parklands, stacked up as a financial venture in a report tabled to Logan City Council in September.
Today, the council announced it would carry out a business analysis of the proposition, which will include a rapid whitewater rafting pool, which could be used for Olympic training.
Other planned facilities would cater for kayaking and rafting, with an adventure park, ziplines, a climbing wall and an inflatable obstacle course also in the mix.
The park’s point of difference would be its ability to cater for training elite athletes, including those from colder climes, and emergency rescue training.
According to initial plans, the Greenbank park would have no entry fee and be open all year.
It would also cater for those who did not want to get wet with a restaurant with a focus on nutritional food for athletes.
Council administrator Tamara O’Shea said the detailed investigation would look at any future council investment into the site, which is in walking distance to Park Ridge State High School.
Profit projections have yet to be revealed but initial reports said the annual operating profit would not be enough to satisfy private investment and called for government funding to build the venue.
“It was very pleasing to see earlier this week an announcement that southeast Queensland is moving forward with the 2032 Olympic Bid,” Ms O’Shea said.
“We will continue to engage with the State Government on this legacy project which will service the fast growing, young and active Logan community.
“We are actively progressing our efforts to secure funding for this very exciting project.”
The council will submit its full business case for the Logan West Parklands to the State Government in January.
News of the whitewater park followed council announcing its largest contract to date after it signed a $1 billion deal to rollout water and wastewater infrastructure over the next nine years.
Downer Utilities, along with consultants WSP Australia and Cardno Qld will partner with Logan Water to form the Logan Water Infrastructure Program Alliance, which will be known as Logan WIPA.
The deal, announced a day after the city was declared drought stricken, will include building water and wastewater pipelines and pump stations, water reservoirs, wastewater treatment plants and buying technology to manage the network.
The contract is for five years with options for two extensions of two years each. The council has been in alliance partnerships for the past 10 years.
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