CLAIMS a report classified as Confidential by Redland City Council has been sighted by outside sources is making waves around a proposed Olympic venue.
Mayor Jos Mitchell and councillors were prohibited from disclosing the details of the commercially confidential project validation report under its Confidential classification, but weekend media stories claimed to be quoting extensively from it.
The report’s author has not been identified. Nor have the sources that revealed the finding.
However, those who claim to have seen the confidential business case for the proposed Redland Whitewater Centre, a key venue for the 2032 Olympic Games, say the report notes the facility would be profitable and deliver significant community benefits.
Furthermore, the report found the $61.3 million project was expected to break even or generate profit, offering lifestyle and health benefits, and could enhance water rescue training.
In a memo to councillors and executive staff in March 2024, the then council CEO Andrew Chesterman clarified that the project’s estimated cost was $60 million, not $100 million as claimed by some in the community.
Despite initial opposition, Redland City Council narrowly voted to support the venue in May, with Mayor Mitchell expressing concerns about its fit for the area and urging residents to participate in a 100-day review which closed on Friday, January 10.
More than 20 major organisations from various sectors in Redland City have endorsed a submission to the Olympic Review Committee supporting the Redland White Water Centre (RWWC), authored by local community leader and business owner Cindy Corrie.
The organisations included Sealink, Sirromet, Redlands Coast Chamber of Commerce, Fiteni, SMBI Chamber of Commerce, Redlands Sporting Club, and more.
They collectively advocated for the RWWC as a critical infrastructure project that would provide long-term benefits for the community, including economic growth, job creation, and improved liveability.
“The environment versus development argument has long created division in coastal communities such as ours, and for too long governments have been reluctant to promote how balanced development can be achieved,” the submission stated.
The submission highlighted the importance of the RWWC within the broader Birkdale Community Precinct (BCP), positioning it as a catalyst for urban revitalisation, enhanced tourism, and the development of disaster resilience and water safety training.
“The BCP not only provides the commercial leverage to support the financial viability of the RWWC, it delivers parkland and open space Redlands is desperately lacking,” it said.
“With more than 300km of coastline that is mostly inaccessible, parklands that include water adventure and recreation provide an experience our community has been waiting for.”
The submission called for balanced decision-making and long-term thinking, urging the review committee to prioritise the project’s benefits over the concerns of activist groups.
“Activist groups do not represent the views of this community – they represent their interests and their members,” the document read.
“There are many in this community who support this project, and many who simply just want to see a valuable community asset and industry growth delivered in the Redlands.”
Conversely, a new report has raised significant concerns, particularly regarding environmental risks, such as the potential destruction of endangered koala populations and harm to groundwater-
dependent ecosystems.
The report recommends using the existing Penrith Whitewater Stadium in New South Wales instead, as it would be more cost-effective, faster, and environmentally sustainable.
Lavinia Wood, spokesperson for the Community Alliance for Responsible Planning (CARP), said they would send the report to the 2032 Games Independent Infrastructure & Coordination Authority (GIICA) Board as part of their 100-Day Review of Olympic venues.
“The report underscores the overwhelming benefits of using the existing world-class Penrith Olympic Whitewater Stadium for the 2032 Canoe Slalom events,” she said.
“The report’s concluding recommendation also aligns directly with the 100-Day Review’s first Guiding Principle, ie – ‘Maximise use of existing venues.”
Ms Wood also highlighted strong and consistent community opposition to the project, noting that the most recent survey indicated nearly 80% of Redland residents oppose the whitewater centre.
“Whitewater centres are the short straw of Olympic venues, notoriously running at a loss and offering minimal community benefit compared to much-needed facilities like indoor sports centres or Olympic swimming pools,” Ms Wood said.
The final report of findings and recommendations will be issued on March 8, 100 days from the start of the review.
The Confidential Information and Reports Policy, Local Government Act 2009 states under:
Use of information by councillors: s.171(3) – A councillor must not release information that the councillor knows, or should reasonably know, is information that is confidential to the local government.
Use of information by local government employees s.200(4) – A person who is, or has been, a local government employee must not release information that the person knows, or should reasonably know, is information that- (a) is confidential to the local government; and (b) the local government wishes to keep confidential.
