Paddle Australia has mixed response to Brisbane 2032 Olympic & Paralympic Games venue announcement

The Queensland Government’s announcement earlier this week on venues for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic & Paralympic Games has received a mixed response from Paddle Australia.

While Paddle Australia is thrilled to have confirmation that a new whitewater facility will be developed at Redlands for canoe slalom, the announcement that Canoe Sprint and Para Canoe will be held in Rockhampton came as a surprise, as it did not form part of Paddle Australia’s submissions to the 100 Day Review. 

Paddle Australia has advised it needs further time to assess the venue as to whether it meets the international technical standards of the sport.

Canoe Slalom
A new whitewater facility to be developed at Redlands will be a game changer for canoe slalom in Australia, as there is only one whitewater facility in the country which has limited Paddle Australia’s ability to further grow the sport.

It will be Australia’s second world-class whitewater facility after Penrith Whitewater Stadium was built for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, providing a huge boost for Canoe Slalom in the country and worldwide.

The new facility - Redland Whitewater Centre - will allow Paddle Australia to not only develop the next generation of canoe slalom athletes but also increase opportunities to attract international marquee events to Australia and create genuine legacy for the sport.

Paddle Australia Chief Executive Kim Crane said the new facility would create an important and strong connection between the sport and the community and noted “this is clearly a venue not just for an Olympic competition in 2032, rather it will offer long-term, sustainable opportunities for the community to enjoy active recreation.”

Paddle Australia highlighted that the announcement of Redland Whitewater Centre is a “culmination of tireless work and advocating between all our sport stakeholder groups including Paddle Queensland, and the International Canoe Federation.

“This project is great reward for the vision and commitment of Redland City Council and is a community legacy strategy that fits within the Birkdale Community Precinct development.”

The International Canoe Federation: The ICF welcomed the Queensland Government’s decision to support plans to create the community-focused Redland Whitewater Centre which is set to host Canoe Slalom at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

The Queensland Government has accepted the recommendation set out in the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority’s 100 Day Review into the Games venues and transport infrastructure for Brisbane 2032 to proceed with the Redland Whitewater Centre project.

The procurement phase will now begin with the aim of ensuring the venue is ready to stage Canoe Slalom competitions at Brisbane 2032. With more than seven years to go until the Games open in Brisbane, the ICF is thrilled to see the Queensland Government agree to forge ahead with this project as part of its 2032 Delivery Plan.

Not only will this new facility provide exceptional conditions for slalom paddlers to compete and train, but it will also become a community legacy asset that will be used year-round, generating additional revenue for the city.

Set to be located on about 18% of the 26-hectare core parkland within the Birkdale Community Precinct, the Redland Whitewater Centre will become a hub for adventure-based tourism and outdoor recreational activities. The facility will also offer opportunities for defensive swimming and disaster resilience training. 

Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe
The announcement that Canoe Sprint and Para Canoe will be held in Rockhampton came as a surprise to Paddle Australia as it did not form part of their submissions to the 100 Day Review. 

As part of their submission, Paddle Australia called for a further feasibility study of Hinze Dam, that would have delivered a long term legacy for the sport and benefits to the communities.  The Fitzroy River, in their view, will provide very little scope for lasting legacy.

Paddle Australia will now take the opportunity to review the full report from the 100 Day Review, consult with international and national stakeholders, and continue to dialogue with the Queensland Government and delivery partners.

The International Canoe Federation also noted the Queensland Government’s unveiling of the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton as the venue for the Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe competitions in its 2032 Delivery Plan.

It does not currently meet ICF standards to stage international events. It has come as a surprise to both the ICF and Paddle Australia that Rockhampton has been chosen considering the extensive examinations that had been conducted on other potential venues.

The ICF will continue to work with Paddle Australia, the Queensland Government and other stakeholders to assess the venue options, ensuring that the best solution is found to host sprint races at the Games in 2032.

Image. Credit: Paddle Australia