A crocodile-inhabited river in central Queensland is reportedly set to host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games rowing events.
The Queensland government will likely announce Rockhampton as the host of rowing events at the 2032 Games when it unveils its final infrastructure blueprint on Tuesday, The Courier Mail reported on Monday.
Rockhampton’s Fitzroy River is a regular sight for crocs, with rangers trapping a four-metre crocodile lurking upstream just two years ago.
Liberal politicians and business leaders have argued using the river for the Games, rather than more costly alternatives, would save the state “millions of dollars”.
Advocates have said any crocodiles in the river would need to be rehomed first.
In January, Nationals Queensland Senator Matt Canavan said: “We believe that moving the rowing and canoeing to an existing facility in the centre of Rockhampton can save probably up to $100 million.”
Rowing Australia and Rowing Queensland have reportedly an urgent letter to the state government on Sunday pleading to keep the rowing event in the state and prevent it from being moved to an existing facility in Penrith in Sydney’s west.
But the letter said the government also needed to ensure any venue they chose complied with “the stringent technical requirements required for fair and exciting racing”.
The plan, which is still subject to cabinet approval, is set to be presented to the LNP frontbench on Monday.
It follows a 100-day review set up by Premier David Crisafulli in November into the 2032 Games’ infrastructure.
Brisbane was announced as the host of the Games in July 2021, but political indecision and multi-year-long stadium debates have resulted in major delays and concerns about whether the state can efficiently organise the games.
In 2022, a rebuild of Gabba was first proposed as the centrepiece of the Games which would cost up to $3.4 billion, but that idea was later quashed.
An independent panel also advised building a new stadium at Victoria Park or reusing existing structures as Suncorp Stadium and Queensland’s Sports and Athletic Centre.
