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A crocodile habitat has been given the green light to host 2032 rowing after the controversial site passed an assessment “with flying colours”.
Olympic authorities on Thursday confirmed they had approved central Queensland’s Fitzroy River as a Brisbane Games venue, ending months of debate.
Queensland’s premier, David Crisafulli, happily broke the news in parliament, saying the International Olympic Committee’s assessment of the controversial course was complete.
“The Fitzroy has passed with flying colours,” he said. “It’s official, signed, sealed and delivered.”
World Rowing and Paddle Worldwide also confirmed they backed an independent technical assessment of the regional flat-water course.
It ensured the venue would host Brisbane Games rowing, para rowing, canoe sprint and para canoe events, the Queensland government said.
The state government had faced enormous pressure to reconsider the site since first pitching the regional river as rowing host back in March 2025.
The Fitzroy River is a crocodile habitat, but its strong currents had raised the most concerns, sparking fears it may not comply with World Rowing regatta standards.
It ramped up at a recent World Rowing congress meeting, where the British, New Zealand and German federations reportedly told 2032 bosses their athletes were worried about the venue’s fairness, safety and sustainability.
In recent months an open letter signed by 542 rowers, including Olympians such as gold medallist Drew Ginn, was sent to the state government asking for the rowing venue to be built in southeast Queensland.
An alternative proposal at Moreton Bay, north of Brisbane, had been promoted by the local council as a world standard course at roughly half the cost of Rockhampton’s site.
Crisafulli had been defiant in the face of their concerns, dismissing them as “elites” who were thumbing their nose at a regional centre.
He announced the IOC had signed off on the Rockhampton site in parliament on Thursday, asking the opposition: “Why the long faces?”
“Many have said it can’t be done … we reject that view. We back in regional Queensland – no ifs, no buts.”
Critics also argued flooding at the Fitzroy River and heavy silt loads would demand constant dredging and repairs to keep an Olympic‑standard course open.
However deputy premier Jarrod Bleijie said there would be “no widening, no dredging needed” after analysis showed the river could cater for a full width Olympic course with eight lanes plus room for start and finish areas.
“The Fitzroy has the space for a full international standard course at 2.7km long section, providing sufficient distance for a standard 2000-metre rowing race,” he told parliament.
The IOC endorsed the flat-water course after a comprehensive and independent technical assessment by “internationally renowned marine engineering experts”, the state government said.
World Rowing and Paddle Worldwide endorsed the course after reviewing the expert data and representatives inspected the site.
“We now know that the Fitzroy River is capable of providing fair competition conditions during the period of the Games,” World Rowing president, Jean-Christophe Rolland, said in a statement.
Paddle Worldwide president Thomas Konietzko said the extensive analysis had significantly improved the understanding of the field of play and had provided confidence in the course.
The Games authority would now proceed with the detailed planning, design and construction for the competition, the Queensland government said.
Rockhampton mayor Tony Williams was thrilled – but not surprised – by the IOC nod.
“It’s something that we’ve always known, that Rockhampton and the Fitzroy River would be the perfect venue for rowing in 2032,” he told AAP.
“Now it’s time to get on with starting to look at the infrastructure and secure the work that needs to be done.”
