NSW Floods force Australian rowing championships to move from Penrith to new location

A major Australian championship sporting event has been moved from Penrith to Victoria due to the after effects of the recent NSW floods.

Penrith Regatta centre is used for a multitude of sports.

Rowing Australia has moved its Australian championships from the Sydney International Regatta Centre at Penrith due to water quality concerns.

In a major blow, the entire championship, involving the best rowers in the country and multiple Olympians, has been shifted south to Lake Nagambie in Victoria.

Paralympic Rowers Tom Birtwhistle and James Talbot training on the Nepean River before last year’s Games in Tokyo.

Rowing Australia confirmed the move this week and said the event dates will remain unchanged with the championships still running from March 28 to April 3.

The NSW Office of Sport advised rowing officials that the Sydney International Regatta Centre would be unable to host the Australian Rowing Championships due to water contamination issues occurring as a result of the recent floods.

“Naturally, we are disappointed to be unable to host the Australian Rowing Championships at SIRC in 2022. SIRC is a highly regarded venue with outstanding facilities for both athletes and spectators alike. I know that our rowing community always enjoys competing at the venue of the Sydney Olympic Games Rowing Regatta,” said Rowing Australia CEO Ian Robson.

An SES boat patrols the flooded waterways of the Hawkesbury River in Vineyard during the NSW floods.

“Although unavailable to RA this year, we will be back, and our thoughts and best wishes are with those communities throughout NSW and Queensland who are impacted by the floods.”

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