Rowing, canoeing bodies oppose 2032 Olympic and Paralympics course

Ross Tong knows the euphoric feeling of rowing to an Olympic medal for his country.

The former policeman powered to a bronze medal on the water for New Zealand at the 1984 Los Angeles Games at Lake Casitas.

"All an athlete wants is a fair shot at a medal," Tong said, after inspecting a now contentious regional Queensland venue selected for the Brisbane Olympics.

The Fitzroy River in Rockhampton, the largest river catchment flowing to the eastern coast of Australia, will host rowing and canoeing events in 2032.

But the decision has received backlash from national and international bodies who have indicated they will oppose the plan, saying the waterway does not meet required technical standards.

"When I saw the [Rockhampton] venue I thought as a training venue, very good, but it's a river, it's got flow and therefore it's not fair," Tong said.

Tong said many variables needed to be eliminated including water quality and weed management.

"All a rower wants is fair conditions," he said.

"[River current] can have a massive effect on the boat then there's the chances of weed getting caught onto a rudder or a fin and that slows the boat down significantly.

"If you look at some of the [Olympic final] finishes they are so incredibly close and the facilities need to be perfect and need to absolutely spot on."

Fairness and safety paramount

While Brisbane Games organisers remain adamant that rowing and canoeing events will go ahead on the Fitzroy River, the venue has not undergone any technical feasibility assessment.

"That would confirm its ability to host national or international racing," a World Rowing spokesperson said.

"Fairness and safety are paramount to any venue hosting events of this magnitude and importance, and any rowing course used for international racing must comply with World Rowing's Rules of Racing and technical requirements."

In the past, the Rockhampton waterway has been used as a training facility for the Australian rowing team, including before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and with further plans to do the same ahead of the next Games in Los Angeles.

"We certainly have a lot of love for Rockhampton but a training camp is somewhat a different proposition to an Olympic and Paralympic regatta," Rowing Australia chief executive Sarah Cook said.

A former Olympian and elite rower herself, Cook said the national body would work with Games organisers to "find the best possible option for all stakeholders".

"At the end of the day we want a great Olympic Games," she said.

"One of the requirements for World Rowing is that the course has no stream to be of an international standard and the Fitzroy does have a stream so it will be interesting to see how the technical assessments go from that perspective."

The International Canoe Federation [ICF] and Paddle Australia also questioned the proposal to use the Fitzroy River.

"It does not currently meet ICF standards to stage international events," an ICF spokesperson said.

"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."

River flow not an issue

The Fitzroy River is in the heart of the Rockhampton city and famous for big barramundi and crocodiles.

In January, three crocodiles made themselves at home between the first and second holes at North Rockhampton Golf Club.

But rowing officials are more concerned about the current in the central Queensland location than the crocodiles.

However, data from the Queensland government's Water Monitoring System shows historical average streamflow rate in the upper Fitzroy River during winter months, when the Olympics would be held in Rockhampton, sits well below World Rowing's accepted rate for Olympic regattas.

The Fitzroy Barrage, built to manage water supply, separates the fresh water upstream from the tidal saltwater downstream.

Rockhampton Regional Council said the months of July and August traditionally saw the least need for the Fitzroy Barrage to open in response to river flows.

The Rockhampton Fitzroy Rowing Club has also defended the river's Olympic status.

"We have demonstrated that we can hold major rowing events and we'll do that again with the Olympics," Rockhampton's Mayor Tony Williams said.

"There's a lot of work ahead of us but I honestly can't wait and I'm eager to get to work to help deliver what's going to be a massive win for our region."

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli urged all federations and other stakeholders to work together in support of Queensland's suggested venues.

"It's not just about the rowing, it's also about having the eyes of the world on a regional centre."

Mr Crisafulli said he had also spoken to Environment Minister Andrew Powell to address the issue of crocodiles in the waterway where rowing is held.

He said the government would consider re-categorising that stretch of the Fitzroy River to an active removal zone to have crocodiles surveyed, trapped and removed.