Senators Richard Colbeck (Liberal), Linda White (Labor), Matt Canavan (Nationals), Bridget McKenzie (Nationals), Penny Allman-Payne (The Greens), Malcolm Roberts (PHON) hearing evidence in Brisbane Hearing on 22 August 2023.
Instead of building a new Redland whitewater stadium at Birkdale, use the existing whitewater facility at Penrith says the Interim Report of a Senate Inquiry examining preparations for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.
The Inquiry into Australia’s preparedness to host Commonwealth, Olympic and Paralympic Games is being undertaken by the Senate’s Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee, chaired by Senator Matt Canavan (LNP Queensland).
Significant community concerns around the proposal to construct a Redland whitewater facility at Birkdale were heard by the Committee.
The Committee’s Interim Report calls for detailed analysis of the feasibility of holding Olympic canoe slalom events at Penrith NSW instead of a new facility at Birkdale.
Any proposal to build a whitewater centre at Birkdale should be subject to a “robust business case” that is “publicly available” and includes “detailed evidence of the benefits to the community and residents of the state” said the Committee.
Concerns that Redland City Council may be “misrepresenting the views of the community” and “exaggerating community demand for this facility” were expressed by the Committee in its Interim Report.
Redland Whitewater Centre – findings
The Senate Inquiry’s Interim Report made four findings about the proposed Redland Whitewater Centre which are shown in full below.
| 4.86 | The committee was also concerned about the proposal to build an expensive Whitewater Centre at Redland. It appears the local council is divided on the plan, with the Mayor having to use her casting vote to secure the progress of the project. The committee is concerned that the Council may be misrepresenting the views of the community and may be exaggerating community demand for this facility, of which it is the originator and proponent. Residents are deeply concerned about impacts on the natural environment and the koala population in the area, along with the possibility that the facility will leave a legacy of debt for the council and its residents. |
| 4.87 | The committee agrees that major development decisions—such as the decision to build a Whitewater Centre at Redland—should be subject to a robust business case, and that business case should be publicly available. The history of whitewater facilities built for previous Games suggests there is a high likelihood that the facility could become a drain on the community and public funds in the future. This evidence would suggest that Australia does not need, and cannot sustain, two whitewater facilities. Proponents of the project should be willing and able to provide detailed evidence of the benefits to the community and residents of the state. Failure to do so inevitably results in doubt and division. |
| 4.88 | The Queensland Government should be working with the New South Wales Government to fully explore the possibility of holding the events at the Penrith Whitewater Centre. It is unclear if this option has been fully investigated. The committee would like to see a detailed analysis of the feasibility of using the existing Penrith facilities for the Games, instead of building a new facility at Redland. |
| 4.89 | The committee would also like to see greater transparency around the conditions under which the Birkdale lands were sold to the Redland City Council. If there was an agreement that the environment be protected as a condition of the sale, this must be made public and must be honoured. |
Consider Penrith says Interim Report
The Senate Inquiry’s Interim Report made the following recommendation about the proposed Redland Whitewater Centre.
| 4.95 | The committee recommends the Australian Government works through an intergovernmental forum, such as National Cabinet, to explore the most cost‑effective solution for hosting the canoe slalom events at the Brisbane 2032 Games. If it is feasible to host the events at the Penrith Whitewater Centre in New South Wales, including with refurbishments, this option should be prioritised over building a new facility. |
Labor Senators Additional Comments
The Interim Report includes the following additional comments from Labor Senators.
“Labor senators note that approximately nine years remain between the conduct of this inquiry and the commencement of the Brisbane Olympic Games in 2032. Given this timeline, Labor senators note that it is desirable that outcomes which are mutually agreeable to local communities and Olympic organising bodies be negotiated.”
No need for Redlands Whitewater Centre – The Greens
The Interim Report includes the following findings in a Dissenting Report from Senator Penny Allman-Payne (The Greens Queensland).
| 1.17 | Evidence from the inquiry has indicated that there is no need to build a new whitewater rafting facility in the Redlands. There is insufficient justification for a new facility, considering the existence of a functional facility in Penrith. |
| 1.18 | The technical report from the International Olympic Committee set out that instead of the Redlands Whitewater Centre, the Brisbane Olympic Committee should consider using the existing legacy facilities in New South Wales. This aligns with the new norm strategy for Olympics, that aims to reduce wasted infrastructure. |
| 1.19 | The track record of the last six Olympic whitewater stadiums indicates the Olympic legacy for the Redlands will be a long-term financial burden. Three stadiums are abandoned, effectively concrete swamps, and three are running in the red. The newly upgraded Olympic whitewater stadium in Penrith, New South Wales will host the Canoe Slalom World Championships in 2025. |
| 1.20 | For these reasons the decision to build a new Whitewater Centre at Redlands seems to have been taken without justification and pursued doggedly despite community opposition to the project. This clearly fails to align with the new norm requirements for an Olympic Games. |
Redlands2030 – 18 September 2023
Please note: Offensive or off-topic comments will be deleted. If offended by any published comment please email thereporter@redlands2030.net
4 Comments
Seems deal done long before we, the people of Redland City, were permitted to view the Birkdale Community Precinct over a 2-day period. Viewing the site on first day, noted prominently displayed Whitewater facility received no attention, while young and old wrote on boards provided on what they would like to see there. Some wanted koala hospital, some nature based projects, the natural environment, walkways. It came as a shock to hear on six o-clock news that evening, then Queen of Olympics announcing on Channel 9, she would be hosting the Whitewater Canoe Racing facility at 2032 Olympics! After this announcement, Redlanders were asked to ‘have our say!’ Were this highly destructive facility approved to be built, along with a lagoon, when bulldozers, supply trucks, concrete roadway built through the precinct, the two State Heritage sites, namely: WWII Radio Receiving Station, plus Willard Homestead, built mid-1800s, would be impacted so severely by building works, no tourist would want to visit the site, particularly, since outside boundary on Old Cleveland Road East housing estates are being built to where traffic is increasing by the day on all roads surrounding the precinct. This site must be left free of building major water based projects, to be a place for people of all ages to visit to view koalas, the 2 heritage sites, enjoy being in a natural environment away from air and noise pollution for a moment in time.
that adds to health and wellbeing of a community. Agree with Senator Matt Canavan and GC Mayor Tom Tate, + Redland community groups the Whitewater facility must not be built on Birkdale land leaving ratepayers burdened with maintenance costs far into the future. For the few who enjoy canoe racing in man made turbulent waters, Penrith has been used by Olympians in the past and there for future Olympians, seen as a sensible, cost saving decision..
I remember going to the Birkdale Precinct open day thing and there was overwhelming community support for turning it into a conservation and reforestation project, but almost no interest in a useless whitewater facility.
I am glad this is being investigated as Redlands residents we’ve said we don’t want this white elephant canoe course when there is one already in existence at Penrith, the Council just cannot justify the expense and ongoing maintenance. We all end up paying for it in the end. Common sense should prevail but sadly it is lacking with this.
The proposed White Water facility at Birkdale is another nail in the coffin for our koalas, like other developments that have been allowed to go ahead here in the Redlands, where planning for koala corridors is completely disregarded despite workable options. The White Water facility in Penrith would be a much more sensible option, taking into account the bottomless money pit that the Birkdale facility would prove to be