Fitzroy River in Central Queensland Receives Approval for Olympics

The Fitzroy River in Rockhampton has received initial approval to host rowing and canoeing events for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics. This decision comes after the river was announced as the Olympic venue in March, despite facing criticism from various national and international organizations regarding its technical suitability.

On Tuesday, the CQ32 Rowing Legacy Advisory Committee confirmed that the river passed initial testing conducted by the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA). The committee comprises local political, tourism, and business leaders from the region.

Queensland Senator Matt Canavan, a member of the CQ32 committee, expressed satisfaction with the results of the state's feasibility study. "Effectively now we have a green light for rowing in 2032," Senator Canavan stated. He added, "All the data is in — there is no longer any barrier to having the rowing here."

The government plans to use the test results, which include assessments of water flows and depths, to demonstrate to World Rowing that the Fitzroy River is suitable for the Games. The international rowing federation is also conducting its own technical assessment, which has not yet been released.

A primary concern for the committee was whether the river's flow met World Rowing standards. Senator Canavan noted, "What is clear now after the months of testing … is that those flow rates are well below the thresholds that are set for a competition. We had to do this testing to make sure, and now we are sure that this river is flat as a tack."

The Fitzroy River, the largest river flowing into the Great Barrier Reef, is known for its barramundi fishing and resident crocodiles. The rowing course is located north of the barrage. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has indicated that crocodile management will also be part of the venue's assessment.

Once GIICA completes its feasibility assessment, the Project Validation Report for the rowing venue will be reviewed before funding can be approved. Sarah Black, president of the Rockhampton Fitzroy Rowing Club, stated that the facility would be ready to host an Olympic-standard regatta by 2032, with a focus on regional events. "Then [we are] also looking to attract more national and international events moving forward and [at] what will give us the most legacy now that we have this very green light," she said.