Minister’s letter promises Olympic spending review to include $100m whitewater venue

Bayside residents who railed against a $100 million whitewater Olympic venue have welcomed a promise from Queensland’s new state development minister for a full spending review into the project.

The master plan for the Brisbane 2032 games. Source: IOC Feasibility Assessment Report (Brisbane 2032)

A March deadline is expected for a review into using vacant government land at Birkdale for an Olympic whitewater venue.

Queensland’s new State Development Minister Grace Grace detailed the review in a January 8 letter responding to 394 Redland petitioners lobbying against building the $100 million venue.

Chief petitioner Lavinia Wood welcomed this week’s response and said a review would be a timely reminder to the state government about spending frugally after the $2 billion recent storm damage bill.

At least 500 homes were damaged after a tornado whipped through the Gold Coast on Christmas Day and Logan and Scenic Rim regions were hit by storms and flash flooding.

“Even the most rusted-on government supporters are furious about the expenditure proposed for the Olympics when there are families living in cars because they are homeless and others who are waiting for their houses to be repaired,” Ms Wood said.

“There are alternatives to building a permanent whitewater facility at Birkdale, the first and foremost being using the existing Olympic facilities in Penrith NSW.

“If the government insists on building a new one in Queensland, then it should be co-located with the flatwater racing facilities at Wyaralong, where the Olympic racing events will be held.

“A temporary facility could be built at Wyaralong and dismantled after the Games so taxpayers will not have to pay the massive ongoing operating and maintenance bills,” she said.

The letter from Queensland’s new State Development Minister Grace Grace in response to a petition by 396 Redland ratepayers calling for the Birkdale Olympic whitewater venue to be axed.

In her letter, Ms Grace said the proposed Birkdale Olympic complex was one of six proposed new venues to be built for competitions in 2032.

She also said a 2032 Olympics Master Plan would be the catalyst for kick starting much-needed development projects across the state.

The letter also said the review would evaluate whether the Birkdale venue would optimise the use of existing facilities and meet the International Olympic Committee’s criteria for being necessary.

“Over 80 per cent of venues in the master plan are existing or temporary, and the master plan includes 37 competition venues for hosting 28 Olympic and 22 Paralympic sports,” she said.

“This includes six new venues, eight upgraded venues, 16 existing venues, five temporary venues and two interstate venues.

“The Redland Whitewater Centre is one of these proposed competition venues.”

The state government’s Brisbane 2032 Olympic Master Plan outlines where and how events, facilities, and transportation will be organised for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

It follows five guiding principles, including using existing venues efficiently, adopting a regional approach, and building new venues regardless of the Games.

The plan includes three main venue zones in southeast Queensland covering five local government areas of Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Logan, Redland and the Sunshine Coast. Additionally, venues will be spread across regional centres such as Toowoomba, Townsville, and Cairns.