Brisbane 2032 Olympics: Lake Wyaralong best for rowing, says mayor

They said it couldn’t be done, but a Queensland mayor is adamant the original preferred option for Olympic rowing is viable.

Lake Wyaralong is back in the frame for Olympic rowing.

Olympic rowing could be hosted at Lake Wyaralong for a fraction of the $300m forecast, Scenic Rim Mayor Tom Sharp says.

The Games Independent Infrastructure Authority recommended rowing be held at Penrith, New South Wales in 2032 due to the prohibitive cost of building athlete accommodation and upgrading roads around Lake Wyaralong – the venue flagged after Brisbane won the Games in 2021.

Authority chair Stephen Conry in April said the cost of building accommodation for hundreds of athletes would likely hit $200m.

Mr Sharp said Scenic Rim Regional Council had fixed earlier logistic concerns about accommodation for more than 1500 athletes and officials.

He said several sites within 35 minutes of the venue had been secured – which would become residential or student accommodation after the Games.

“We’re in the midst of a housing crisis and Scenic Rim is a growing region and we need the opportunities for our youth and people coming to the region for training and employment,” he said.

Scenic Rim Mayor Tom Sharp

Asked if Lake Wyaralong would cost less than building a venue at Rockhampton’s Fitzroy River, Mr Sharp said, “We believe so.”

Mr Sharp is optimistic the state government would reconsider Lake Wyaralong, despite the staunch support of ministers and Premier David Crisafulli to hold rowing in Rockhampton.

“I think this is an LNP government that’s very much willing to listen,” he said.

“It will be a combination of what World Rowing want, Rowing Australia want, Rowing Queensland want and what the rowers actually want and need.

“We welcomed the suggestion that GIICA would do a feasibility study on all the facilities across Queensland … it makes it challenging for both us and the state government not having those studies completed for Rockhampton.”

Last week Deputy Premier and Infrastructure Minister Jarrod Bleijie said rowing would be held in Rockhampton, and warned the International Olympic Committee would pay for it if the event had to be moved to Sydney.

The IOC was contacted for comment.