Rockhampton’s Fitzroy River flat water course has received endorsement to host the 2032 games for rowing, para rowing, canoe sprint and para canoe events from World Rowing and Paddle Worldwide endorsing an independent technical assessment of the Rockhampton Flatwater course.
Member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry, said that the Fitzroy was always the right decision to host the Rowing and Canoeing events.
“We’ve got one of the best natural rowing courses in the world right here in Rockhampton, so for me it was always an obvious choice to host,” Ms Landry said.
“This has been something that Rockhampton has really rallied behind, and we’ve been vindicated with this endorsement.
“Rex Pilbeam’s foresight with the barrages is paying off again, with the barrage creating a mid-river dam, that is separated from the tidal flows.”
Leader of The Nationals, Matthew Canavan, said this is a great day for Central Queensland now that the Fitzroy River has met a technical assessment by World Rowing and Paddle Worldwide to host the 2032 Olympics.
“The Fitzroy River is one of the most beautiful parts of our country,” Senator Canavan said.
“It would have been a great shame if Queensland had hosted the Olympics but we didn’t take the opportunity to have an event in and around the Great Barrier Reef, and the original games plan developed by the then Labor Government didn’t have a medal event outside of Brisbane.
“The Fitzroy River will help sell the beauty of Queensland and Australia to the world.
“Because of the tireless efforts of locals, including Mayor Tony Williams, local MPs Nigel Hutton, Glen Kelly, and especially Donna Kirkland who really pushed for the rowing to be held here.
“We hold school state championships on the Fitzroy, and has been used by our national team in the past for training so we knew the pedigree was always there, and the Premier and Deputy Premier have to be commended for not bowing to the pressure for the events to be in Brisbane.”
In a statement from the Queensland Government a comprehensive and independent technical assessment had been completed by the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority and Waterproof Marine consultancy and Services B.V.
World Rowing President, Jeane-Christophe Rolland, and Paddle Worldwide President, Thomas Konietzko, endorsed the course as being able to provide a safe, fair and consistent field of play for the Olympic and Paralympic Rowing and Canoe Sprint competitions after reviewing the report.
