Olympic whitewater site proceeds amid cost, environmental concerns

Queensland has approved a new Olympic whitewater centre in Birkdale, despite not revealing the cost and before securing mandatory federal environmental approvals.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie made the announcement but was unable to disclose the costings while Redland mayor Jos Mitchell did not attend.

The state government is forging ahead with its proposed Olympic whitewater venue at Birkdale, southeast of Brisbane despite questions about the project’s final cost, long-term financial management and environmental concerns

State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie confirmed the Birkdale facility would be part of the state’s $7.1bn commitment to Brisbane 2032 Olympic infrastructure.

Along with the Olympic-standard whitewater centre, the project, on Redland City Council land, includes a broader community precinct featuring a proposed public lagoon, amphitheatre, and outdoor stage with all components yet to be fully costed and approved by the council.

“The games authority has recommended that this project move forward without delay, and the government has accepted that recommendation,” Mr Bleijie said.

He added that while the centre was a state investment, Redland Council would take the lead on planning and delivery, with the development subject to federal environmental approval under the EPBC Act.

The Birkdale site, owned by Redland City Council, will be a multimillion-dollar Olympic venue but ratepayers have been left in the dark about the cost.

Despite this, he was unable to confirm whether Redlands ratepayers would be liable for long-term operational costs.

“We don’t want to burden the ratepayers of Redlands with unnecessary financial strain,” he said.

“Discussions are ongoing with the council and the Games Independent Infrastructure Coordination Authority.”

Queensland Fire Department Commissioner Stephen Smith highlighted the centre’s dual role — not just for elite competition but also as a crucial training site for the state’s 500 specialist swift water rescue personnel and thousands of first responders.

Currently, personnel have to travel to the Tully River in North Queensland and Tasmania for training — trips that are both costly and time-consuming.

Commissioner Smith said the Birkdale venue would reduce that burden and provide a “highly controlled” and accessible training environment, featuring dual whitewater channels.

Queensland Fire Department Commissioner Stephen Smith speaks with Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie at the site of the whitewater venue and proposed lagoon. Picture: Judith Kerr

“This dual-purpose approach ensures that the facility will remain active and financially viable beyond 2032, addressing concerns about post-Olympic underuse,” he said.

Redland City Council Mayor Jos Mitchell did not attend the announcement, fuelling speculation about unresolved funding issues.

However, the council’s general manager of major projects, Chris Isles, said the council “did not have a final cost yet” and still needed to decide which elements to include, referring to a proposal to build a lagoon similar to South Bank.

“The $100 million figure hasn’t really ever been accurate, at least not for the whitewater venue,” Mr Isles said.

“Council is only responsible for the parkland component, which is a 20-year masterplanned project.

“Many financial models suggest the whitewater venue will be cash-positive and could help subsidise other parts of the site, like the proposed swimming lagoon.”

Still, local residents remain wary.

Community Alliance for Responsible Planning’s Lavinia Wood third from left, with other concerned Redland residents. Picture: Contributed

Community Alliance for Responsible Planning’s Lavinia Wood said ratepayers deserved to know how much it was going to cost them.

“There is no way a whitewater centre will be cash positive,” she said.

“If these things made a quid, private enterprise would be all over them, and they are not.

“What’s worse is a whitewater centre will destroy the fragile aquifer that sustains the groundwater dependent ecosystems, that is — the core koala habitat.

“It spells the end of the local koalas.

“The people of the Redlands don’t want a Whitewater Centre, and never have.

“It is clearly the short straw of Olympic venues. We hope it will be stopped by the federal government when referred under the EPBC Act.”