A VOCAL critic of the Redland Whitewater Centre proposal has called for greater transparency following the leak of a confidential report detailing the financial viability of the project.
The leaked document, which contains sensitive findings on the potential profitability and community benefits of the Birkdale Centre for the 2032 Olympic Games, has raised concerns about Redland City Council’s handling of the report.
Dr Dennis Tafe, from Sheldon, expressed frustration over the lack of openness, particularly given that transparency is one of the core principles of the Olympic Games.
“The community deserves to see the full project validation report, not just the selective details that have been leaked,” he said.
“If the report’s findings are as optimistic as claimed, there should be no reason to hide them behind ‘commercial in confidence’ designations.
“This kind of secrecy only undermines public trust and prevents proper expert scrutiny.”
Dr Tafe also questioned the timing of the leak, which surfaced just before the final recommendations for the Olympic venues are due to be submitted to the State Government in March.
“The timing is incredibly suspicious, especially with the 100-Day Review of Olympic venues still underway,” he said.
In addition to calling for more openness, Dr Tafe proposed a more prudent solution for the Olympic whitewater events, one that would prioritise existing venues.
He suggested utilising the Penrith Olympic Stadium, citing it as a more cost-effective, faster, and environmentally responsible option.
“They should release the entire project validation report and reconsider the current plans in favour of a solution that benefits everyone – from the community to the environment,” Dr Tafe said.
The leak has added an extra layer of scrutiny to the ongoing discussions about the centre.
While officials have not confirmed whether an investigation into the leak is underway, a source close to the Council said they are reviewing how the sensitive information was exposed.
“All I know is that there is the possibility of an investigation into the leak, but there’s nothing firm on that because they’ve got no lead,” the source said.
“No one knows who leaked it but they are definitely looking into it.”
