Is the Fitzroy River a suitable venue for the Brisbane Olympics, given it’s home to crocodiles?

Quite a few crocodile tears have been shed on the issue of the rowing and canoeing venue of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics.

The reason for the controversy is the proposed venue – Rockhampton’s Fitzroy River.

The tidal river is prone to flooding and is also home to crocodiles.

While the Queensland government is adamant the venue will host rowing and canoeing, others are nervous.

So, what are the pros and cons, and who will have the final say?

Disagreements among decision-makers

The river has a deep-rooted rowing history dating back to 1863 and has hosted significant events such as the 2009 Australian Masters Championships.

Last week, Queensland deputy premier Jarrod Bleijie reinforced the river will host rowing and canoeing events in 2032.

But World Rowing and the International Canoe Federation are conducting studies and feasibility assessments, and have not yet thrown their full support behind the venue.

Officials from both governing bodies toured the venue in February with members of the 2032 organising committee.

Several Olympians, including Australian rowing legend Drew Ginn, have expressed concerns about the fairness of holding the rowing in a tidal river. Competitors in some lanes could be disadvantaged due to varying current conditions caused by tides, flooding and water depth.

Ginn said:

I think it’s just embarrassing that we’re doing it. Imagine the 100m sprint having a (runner) in lane six going forward, and on lane one going backwards and thinking that’s fair for athletes. Rivers flow, rivers flood, we know the course up there has real issues around this – that’s ok for a local regatta … but it’s not ok for the Olympic Games.

As well as concerns about currents and flooding, the river is also home to crocodiles, although official Queensland government statistics show no crocodile attacks on humans have been recorded here – only sightings.

President of Brisbane’s organising committee Andrew Liveris dismissed concerns about the crocodiles:

There are sharks in the ocean and we still do surfing […] creatures below the water – that’s a bit kind of ‘Hollywoodish’.

Supporters of the Fitzroy River

Key decision makers – the Queensland government, the Brisbane organising committee headed by Liveris and the Games Infrastructure and Coordination Authority – want the Olympics and Paralympics to be regionalised.

Rockhampton fits into this plan. It was a state election promise and part of the original proposal to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which encourages hosts to take a decentralised approach.

Both the 2024 Paris summer games and 2026 Milano Cortina winter games demonstrated a successful model of decentralised venues, with ongoing socio-economic legacy for residents.

Out of the 17 proposed new or upgraded venues for the 2032 games, there are nine in regional areas.

Recreational and elite athletes train on the river and Australian training camps were held there before the Tokyo and Paris games.

While some argue the river has technical challenges due to its bends and currents, course adaptations are always possible – for example, for the 2028 Los Angeles games, the course length has been reduced from the standard 2,000 metres to 1,500m.

The arguments against

It will be expensive to dredge the river and widen it as well as costs for security, seating and other added amenities. The total has been estimated at $500 million but upgrades have not yet commenced.

Many Olympians are not in favour of this site, claiming it is not an Olympic-calibre venue.

A separate athlete’s village will need to be built, and competitors in these two sports will be isolated from the main action down south, about 640 kilometres away.

Suggested alternative venues are in Moreton Bay and the Queensland State Rowing Centre in the Gold Coast.

Moreton Bay in particular has shown interest in hosting. As it is only a one-hour drive from Brisbane, Moreton Bay would be more centralised and logistically easier to manage.

The Gold Coast venue is also close to Brisbane and is a well-used facility. Both would still require significant expenditure to upgrade, but possibly less costly than Rockhampton.

There is also a proposal to relocate to Penrith in New South Wales – the rowing site of the Sydney 2000 games. This is not a realistic alternative given the Queensland government’s investment and promised games legacies.

Then there is of course the crocodiles. Media hype on this angle is strong, although fears may be overblown, as no human attacks have been reported and the venue hosts community and school rowing regularly.

It’s almost decision time

Venues and the sports program for the games must be confirmed this year. This gives a six-year timeframe to adequately complete construction and prepare for the games.

The IOC, World Rowing and the International Canoeing Federation will have the final say – the IOC will likely discuss it at board meetings in May and June.

It appears leaving rowing and canoeing in Rockhampton is the most likely option at this point in time.

But history tells us, when it comes to finalising Olympic venues, key decision-makers rarely all paddle in the same direction.