Representatives of local community groups in Queensland have got in touch with Nepean News to say “a bombshell new report” has underscored the overwhelming benefits of using the existing world-class Penrith Olympic Whitewater Stadium for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games Canoe Slalom events.
The groups say the report has raised “serious concerns about the $100 million Olympic Whitewater Centre proposed for the special conservation lands of the Birkdale Community Precinct (BCP) in Redland City (QLD), warning of potentially devastating environmental impacts that will likely spell the end for the local population of endangered koalas.”
They say it urges decision-makers to abandon the project in favour of using existing facilities in Penrith, thus sparing the International Olympic Committee (IOC) the inherent risk of tarnishing the ‘Olympic brand’ through direct association with devastating harm to koalas.
The group states the new report identifies major risks associated with the Redlands Whitewater Centre development, including significant harm to groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) comprising Core Koala Habitat. There are also concerns about apparently insufficient groundwater analysis, limitations to assessment methods, as well as mapping inaccuracies.
Lavinia Wood, spokesperson for the Community Alliance for Responsible Planning (CARP), stated “The report findings show Redland City Council’s decision to proceed with the Redlands Whitewater project appears to have been based on insufficient data and a lack of due diligence. The decision to proceed should be abandoned immediately.”
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.
Kathy Petrik (also with CARP) added “Discussions about venues for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics have been ongoing for several years now, and with the change in the Queensland State Government, a new 100-day review is taking place. Hopefully, this will finalise the matter in an evidence-based and practical way.
Community consultation ended last Friday (3rd January) and the new committee examining them will be making announcements in early March, we believe.
Public submissions to the 100-day Review of Olympic venues, set up by Premier Crisafulli, have now ended. The Premier’s 2032 Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority is supposed to put an end to all the venue controversies once and for all when it has reviewed public input and makes its final recommendations in the weeks ahead.
“We are hoping this independent Authority will deliver its decisions in the public interest, as was promised.
“One surprising thing about the proposed site is that unlike other similar whitewater Olympic venues, there is no water source available on the Birkdale lands, which means water must be pumped in from the SEQ water grid, at additional costs.”
