A coalition of Redlands community organisations has issued a strong statement opposing the proposed Olympic Redland Whitewater Centre, arguing that residents are being asked to “just trust us” on a project they say lacks transparency, economic evidence and community support.
Community Alliance for Responsible Planning (CARP) Redlands spokesperson Lavinia Wood, speaking on behalf of several local groups including the Birkdale Progress Association, Redlands2030, Koala Action Group Queensland and ACF Community Bayside, said Redlanders “deserve better than being told to ‘just trust us’ when it comes to the proposed Olympic Redland Whitewater Centre”.
“Yet that is exactly what the former Redlands Mayor and current Deputy Mayor are asking the community to do — accept on faith that a high-risk, high-cost Olympic venue will somehow turn a profit, despite providing no evidence whatsoever to support that claim,” she said.
The alliance has questioned whether any substantiated financial analysis has been released.
“If robust economic modelling exists, where is it? Why hasn’t it been released? And does this modelling also include the very significant costs of building and operating ‘the community’s dream of a lagoon-style adventure area’?” Ms Wood said.
She said ratepayers were being placed in an unreasonable position.
“Ratepayers are being asked to shoulder a massive financial burden based on vague references to ‘early economic modelling,’ which is unacceptable for a project of this magnitude. Around the world, Olympic whitewater venues have become notorious for their operating losses and eventual abandonment.
“To insist that Redlands will be the miraculous exception defies both logic and precedent.”
Ms Wood said previous community sentiment had been “crystal clear”, with strong public opposition to the project.
“The public sees it for what it is — a costly, unnecessary legacy of Olympic enthusiasm that never did stack up,” she said.
“And truly, who selects a site with no natural water for a whitewater facility?”
She also criticised the financial arrangements underpinning the project.
“Giving away the land for free, committing some $50 million in upfront headworks, and agreeing to permanently shoulder all operating costs after the Games, whatever they might be,” Ms Wood said, was “astonishingly reckless” for a council representing just 170,000 residents.
“Unsurprisingly, the State and Federal government Olympic venue funding partners were delighted to give this arrangement a ‘value for money’ tick as it’s an extraordinary offer that ensures others are footing the long-term bill.”
Ms Wood said Redland ratepayers, “already paying the highest council rates and charges in SEQ”, were being “kept in the dark about the true financial and environmental costs of this project”.
“What is also at stake is the future of the Birkdale Community Precinct itself, a tract of environmentally significant conservation land which includes Core Koala Habitat supported by the local aquifer. Once this land and its life-giving groundwater are compromised, it cannot be restored.
“No short-term Olympic spectacle is worth that permanent loss.”
She said “the facts simply do not support pushing ahead”, adding that “sensible alternatives exist — including making use of the existing Penrith Olympic Whitewater Stadium — saving some $160 million in upfront capital alone.”
“Redlanders deserves transparency, accountability, and responsible decision-making.
“What they don’t deserve is to be locked into an Olympic vanity project that threatens vulnerable koalas and risks becoming a long-term financial anchor around the community’s neck.”
