Qld Premier firm on Olympic rowing venue despite fears over river

Premier David Crisafulli has vowed to keep his promise to host Olympic and Paralympic rowing in Rockhampton, despite the outcome of a global assessment on the Fitzroy River.

Rowing on Rockhampton's Fitzroy River.

Premier David Crisafulli is adamant Olympic and Paralympic rowing will be held in Rockhampton, vowing to keep the event on the Fitzroy River regardless of the outcome of a global-standards technical assessment.

It comes amid speculation the Rockhampton proposal won’t pass an upcoming assessment by World Rowing president Jean-Christophe Rolland and a suggestion by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that 2032 rowing be relocated to Sydney.

Mr Crisafulli, promoting the government’s community sports funding program with a game of cricket at Bribie Island on Monday, refuted those comments, saying he would fulfil his promise to central Queenslanders to hold rowing in Rockhampton.

“We’re going to deliver that promise,” he said.

“I am mindful that there are people at the moment that are trying to undermine that.

“It’s an incredibly viable option.”

Rowing Australia, in its submission to the government’s 100-day Olympic review, urged the committee to place rowing in South East Queensland at a flatwater site that could accommodate a 2000m stretch with a width of 8 to 10 lanes.

According to World Rowing international competition standards, river depth should be more than 2 metres to ensure plant growth does not interfere with rowers and stream rates should be non-existent in order to make competition fair across all lanes.

David Crisafulli on Bribe Island on Monday. Picture: Tara Croser

The state government is confident the Fitzroy River will meet both of those requirements, pointing to data from the Queensland government’s Water Monitoring System which shows streamflow rates are slow during winter months when the Games will be held.

Rowing Australia declined to comment on the potential shortcomings of the Fitzroy River ahead of the technical assessment.

“We support the decision to keep rowing in Queensland and look forward to continued discussion on suitability, legacy value and long-term benefit to the sport,” a Queensland Rowing spokesman said.

World Rowing in 2022 made a special agreement to shorten the competition length from 2000m to 15000m for the Los Angeles Games to accommodate existing infrastructure restrictions at its Long Beach site.

Mr Rolland, who will visit Queensland in coming months to make his assessment of the Rockhampton site, stressed that the LA deal was “exceptional” and the 2000m rule would apply to all other competitions.

Mr Crisafulli, asked on Monday who decided on the Rockhampton rowing site and what suitability studies had been conducted by the government, said it was “the people of Central Queensland’s idea”.

“I’m very confident that rowing will happen in Rockhampton,” he said.

“That stretch of the river, it has been used for many, many decades. It has been used safely, it has been used effectively, and it’s going to be used on the world stage exactly as we said it would be.”