A PETITION calling on Redland City Council to release full financial modelling for the proposed Redland Whitewater Centre (RWC) has been tabled amid mounting concern about the project’s long-term financial viability.
Submitted by residents, the petition urges the Council to disclose detailed economic modelling for the Olympic-standard facility at the Birkdale Community Precinct, both before the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and in its proposed “legacy mode” afterwards.
Division 10 Councillor Paul Bishop tabled the petition during a recent Council meeting.
“This is a petition from residents requesting that Council take immediate action to provide the full financial modelling for the proposed Whitewater Rafting Facility – pre-2032 and in post-2032 legacy mode,” Cr Bishop said.
“Thank you to the petitioners.”
The petition comes as the proposed whitewater venue – slated to open in 2028 pending approvals –continues to divide public opinion.
While supporters promote the facility as a potential training ground for emergency services and elite athletes, critics are concerned about its long-term cost to ratepayers once the Games are over.
One local described the project as “a huge white elephant … no one wants” while another asked: “If it’s a good deal for ratepayers, why hide the details?”
Others questioned how Redland could fund such a large project when basic facilities remain lacking.
“How is it towns with a fraction of our population can fund public amenities while we struggle to provide basic facilities like showers for tourists?” one wrote.
Commenting online, Mount Cotton resident Abraham Gubler defended the project’s value.
“Redland City is building the Birkdale Community Precinct to fulfill the city’s obligations to provide public recreation facilities.
“A few hundred thousand dollars’ worth of land is being offered up free to the Olympics.
“The whitewater facility will run on a user-pays basis. It takes a special kind of numpty to re-imagine this into Redlands paying for the Olympics,” he said.
Earlier this year, Cr Bishop moved a motion seeking a transparent explanation of the project’s financial underpinnings and calling for modelling.
The motion was defeated 7-4 in favour of an alternative put forward by Deputy Mayor Julie Talty, which called instead for documentation of the process and methodology used in project planning.
A Redland Bayside News poll earlier this year found that 74 per cent of more than 1500 respondents did not support the RWC.
