THE head of Paddle Australia has responded to concerns that the proposed Redland Whitewater Centre could become a ‘white elephant’, saying the Olympic venue is planned as a multi-use community asset capable of attracting international events, training camps and long-term economic benefits to the region.
As debate continues over the future of the whitewater facility planned for the Birkdale Community Precinct, Paddle Australia CEO Kim Crane says critics are overlooking the broader role modern whitewater venues play beyond elite sport.
Speaking to Local Redland Bayside News, Ms Crane said the facility would serve multiple users and help position Redlands Coast as a destination for paddling and outdoor recreation long after the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“It’s a multi-use facility,” Ms Crane said.
“These venues act as a catalyst to unite a community around them.
“With multiple users, swiftwater rescue training, our sport and other community users, you create a place and a connection around the venue.”
The comments come as some opponents of the project continue to question whether the facility will attract enough use after the Olympics, often drawing comparisons with other whitewater venues around the world.
However, Ms Crane said the Redlands project was being developed with a much broader vision than simply hosting Olympic competition.
She said Paddle Australia was already planning mass participation events, community programs and paddling experiences that would utilise both the whitewater facility and the surrounding waterways of Redlands Coast.
“The Redlands Coast will play host to mass participation events with or without the World Paddle Games,” she said.
“We will do that with Redland City Council regardless.
“There are so many opportunities, regardless of your level of paddling experience, to connect with water.”
Ms Crane said the region’s natural environment provided a unique advantage that many international destinations could not replicate.
“We think we’ve got a significant opportunity to position ourselves as a paddling destination that is hard to match anywhere else in the world,” she said.
The Paddle Australia chief also highlighted the role the venue could play in attracting future international events.
Under Queensland’s bid for the inaugural 2030 World Paddle Games, the Redland Whitewater Centre is expected to host Canoe Slalom and potentially two additional world championship disciplines.
Ms Crane said events of that scale would help establish the venue’s international reputation and create a pipeline of future opportunities.
“What converts a great venue into a genuine destination is a track record of delivering world-class events,” she said.
“The athletes, coaches, officials and federation leaders who come to Redlands for the World Paddle Games don’t just go home, they talk.
“The event has the potential to create the next decade of bookings.”
Ms Crane said the venue would become one of only a handful of Olympic-standard whitewater facilities in the Asia-Pacific region, creating opportunities for international training camps and major competitions beyond Brisbane 2032.
While she declined to comment on the financial aspects of the project, Ms Crane pointed to the economic potential of major events as one of the key reasons governments were supporting paddling infrastructure.
“The World Paddle Games represents a $200 million economic impact opportunity,” she said.
“I’m not sure there are many other sports at the moment that are positioning a headline figure into a local region in that way.”
For Ms Crane, however, the greatest legacy would not be measured in dollars.
“What you can’t put a dollar figure on is what happens when a child from Redlands watches a world champion compete 15 minutes down the road from their home,” she said.
“There will be local clubs, schools and community groups who get a platform they’ve never had before.
“Hopefully the next world champion will come out of Redlands.”
For the full interview with Paddle Australia CEO Kim Crane on the World Paddle Games bid, the Redland Whitewater Centre and the long-term Olympic legacy for Redlands Coast, pick up next week’s FREE Local Redland Bayside News.
