PUBLIC accessibility will
be key to the proposed
Redland Whitewater
Centre’s success according
to Olympic Gold medallist
Noemie Fox.
The Olympic champion
is a member of the
Redlands Coast 2032
Legacy Working Group
and became the first ever
Olympic champion in the
women’s slalom kayak
cross event after winning
all of her races to claim
gold at the 2024 Paris
Olympics.
Hot off her recent success
in Paris, Noemie is
eager to grow the sport by
capitalising on the momentum
gained by coverage of
the exciting Paris events
and the gold medals won
by her and sister Jessica.
“We’re one of the only
countries in the world that
relies on only one venue,” she
said.
“In Queensland, there’s
such a huge water culture,
much more than western Sydney,
and post-Paris Olympics,
the amount of interest that’s
been generated in our sport is
huge and it’s hard to channel
it in a productive way.
“When we think about the
future of this sport in Australia,
there are so many people
who are really interested in it,
who love it, who want to be
involved, but when you just
have one venue, it’s incredibly
hard.”
A POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE
A Senate Inquiry held last
year highlighted the Penrith
Whitewater Stadium as an
alternative to the Redlands
site for the 2032 Brisbane
Olympics, warning there
was a “high likelihood” the
proposed Birkdale stadium
could become a “drain on the
community and public funds”.
The report stated, “evidence
would suggest that Australia
does not need, and cannot
sustain, two whitewater
facilities”.
Community Alliance for
Responsible Planning (CARP)
Redlands surveyed 347 local
residents, with 79 per cent of
those surveyed responding
“No” when asked, “Do you
want a Whitewater Centre in
the Redlands?”
CARP Redlands spokesperson
Lavinia Wood said: “This
proposed Olympic Whitewater
Centre is unwanted,
unnecessary and an irresponsible
waste of $100 million of
taxpayers’ money.
“These survey findings
confirm Council’s own 2021
community consultation, in
which Redlanders did not
support whitewater, but said
we wanted to protect the natural,
Indigenous cultural and
European heritage values of
the special Birkdale lands.
“The Premier can rescue the
Redlands, and save $100 million
of public funds, by holding
the 2032 Canoe Slalom
events in the existing Sydney
2000 Olympic Whitewater
Stadium in Penrith, NSW as
International Olympic Committee
policy says he should.”
Upon the release of the
Senate Inquiry findings, Redland
City Council released a
statement that it respected the
intent of the inquiry but did
not believe it had all information
required to make its
recommendation.
THE COUNCIL VOTE
Council confirmed its continued
support of the Redland
Whitewater Centre at its
General Meeting on May 15,
voting six-five in favour of the
proposal.
A Council spokesperson
said the centre was anticipated
to attract tens of thousands of
tourists and adrenalin seekers.
“Being an event venue city
for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic
and Paralympic Games
will give businesses and
investors the confidence that
Redlands Coast is worthy of
their attention,” the spokesperson
said.
“Beyond tourism, the centre
will be used to train our first
responders and emergency
service community in swiftwater
and drowning prevention.
“With our great weather
here, the whitewater centre
can be open all year round for
a variety of uses and activities.”
The spokesperson said
Council was awaiting the
formal investment decision
by both the State and Federal
governments.
“This decision by the governments
is expected to lock
in the delivery of the venue at
Birkdale Community Precinct
prior to the Brisbane 2032
Games,” they said.
“Redland Whitewater Centre
is a Queensland Government
project, with Federal and
State Governments paying
for it to be built, with Council
delivering the balance of the
Birkdale Community Precinct.
“When the Queensland
Government releases the
summary Project Validation
Report information, Council
will also share the information
with the community at that
time.
“The Independent Review
undertaken earlier this year
acknowledged the significant
attention given to the venue
design for the Redland Whitewater
Centre to be cost-neutral,
with a strong financial
model, to achieve long-lasting
legacy outcomes.
“The whitewater venue
will be integrated within a
larger adventure precinct and
parkland, rather than being a
stand-alone venue like many
past Olympic venues.”
Redland City Mayor Jos
Mitchell, who was one of five
to vote against the project in
May, extended congratulations
to the 2024 Australian
Olympics Team and said the
Olympics could be a significant
drawcard for eco-tourism
and Council’s adventure and
lifestyle tourism campaign.
“Redlands has an extremely
active sporting community
and I am hoping we will see
even more of our community’s
sportspeople being able
to compete at elite levels in
2032,” Cr Mitchell said.
“This could also include
canoeing, if the State and Federal
governments decide to
build the white-water facility
in Redlands.
“There will be a great
opportunity for the State
Government and paddling
community to promote the
facility as a national venue of
choice, given Queensland’s
climate benefits and the
facility’s proposed additional
features.”
Olympic champion wants whitewater access for all
