07/09/2026
www.couriermail.com.au
Rocky rowing venue on the ropes amid 500-athlete revolt
Hayden Johnson
5 - 6 minutes
Editor’s view: The real risk
The contingency plan, which Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Organising Committee chief executive Cindy Hook noted was done for every Games venue, comes as athletes around the world and the peak body raise concerns about Rockhampton’s suitability.
National federations from Britain, New Zealand and Germany used the World Rowing Congress meeting to tell Ms Hook, Brisbane 2032 Chief Sport Officer Kit McConnell and World Rowing president Jean-Christophe Rolland their athletes were worried about Rockhampton’s fairness, safety and sustainability.
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Rowing New Zealand chief executive Simon Wickham said the world had taken notice of the letter signed by 500 Australian rowers arguing against the Rockhampton venue.
“We, and probably a number of our federations … have seen emails and accompanying information from concerned rowers from Australia that are familiar with rowing at the venue and their deep concerns from an athlete perspective,” he said.
Mr Wickham also asked how Brisbane 2032 would mitigate the risk of flooding leading into and during Games time and questioned if Rockhampton was the best possible venue Australia could provide.
German Rowing president Moritz Petri said he’d been contacted by athletes who’d “heard about the rumours about Rockhampton”.
He asked: “With regards to sustainability, if we are not being in the core of the Olympic city and not being part of the Olympic village, why we are then not using the former Sydney 2000 regatta course?
“Isn’t it more sustainable from an environmental perspective to go there?”
Ms Hook said Brisbane 2032 and World Rowing had been working closely on an 18-month technical assessment of Rockhampton and noted no other existing venue in Queensland was suitable to host rowing.
Canada Rowing president Tracy Black asked: “Are there any other locations you might consider in Queensland to build if the analysis is not as favourable as you’re hoping for?”
Ms Hook said she appreciated the concerns of national federations.
“Evaluating other locations, which has been done, all of those things are on our radar, as is flood risk,” she said.
“There is a risk of flooding there, there’s a risk of flooding in the Brisbane River as well.
“We will have to come up with contingency plans, as we would for any venue.
“I just caution everybody, there, a lot of people are talking about this, not always with the full facts especially when it comes to throwing out other potential locations that also have limitations and, many cases, bigger than this.”
City of Moreton Bay Council has proposed building a $250m permanent international flatwater centre at Lawnton, which has been supported by Rowing Queensland.
Deputy Premier and Infrastructure Minister Jarrod Bleijie has previously warned the International Olympic Committee rowing would be held in Rockhampton or not at all.
He has also insisted the government would have the final say because it was paying for the Games.
Swiss Rowing Federation director Christian Stofer told Mr Rolland the sport was relying on him to ensure the safety and fairness of athletes.
Rolland noted the in-depth technical assessment was ongoing and said he would have the final say about the Fitzroy River’s Games’ fate.
“We do appreciate all the concerns that you have received, that we do have as well because we’ve seen about the flooding, we have seen events in this location that indeed gives us some concerns and it’s not related only about the piece of water,” he said.
“There are other concerns … sustainability, the environment.
“This is our credibility and responsibility as an international federation to ensure we can deliver this venue at the standard the Olympic and Paralympic athletes deserve.”
World Rowing requested Brisbane Games organisers contract world-renowned marine engineer Waterproof to analyse the underwater topography, river flow analysis, water levels, wind and wave conditions on the Fitzroy River.
An environmental investigation and wildlife management assessment is also under way.
“While the assessment remains ongoing, the work that has been completed to date has significantly advanced our understanding of the venue,” Mr McConnell said.
“The assessment continues to progress positively.
Brisbane 2032 must deliver a full-length 2000m rowing course after Los Angeles was granted special permission to slash the course to 1500m.
However under the “no build” Games agreement, LA2028 is not building new venues.
Instead it will host classic rowing in the tidal Marine Stadium at Long Beach.
This decision was made in 2022, five years after LA won its Games bid.
In its bid LA had proposed to host rowing at Lake Perris — a location three hours from the main Games village and ultimately ditched because it was too expensive and complex to build.
LA28 rowing sport manager Matt Evans said Olympic and Paralympic schedules were different each day to ensure competition was held on slack water and ensure fairness.
“With World Rowing we’ve been working really carefully to look at all options and study all of the impacts of tidal water,” he said.
More Coverage
World Rowing’s president has warned the Brisbane 2032 Games’ credibility is on the line as five national federations publicly challenge the Fitzroy River’s safety.
Details: https://bit.ly/4hfRHxO
