The whitewater facility in Penrith NSW
An alliance of Redlands community organisations is calling for an end to plans for an Olympic Whitewater Stadium to be built on the Birkdale Community Precinct, saying the facility is unnecessary, unwanted and an irresponsible waste of 80-100 million dollars.
These words make sense of the call that, the Redlands community, declines the 2032 Olympic Whitewater stadium in favour of Penrith.
Whitewater plan conflicts with IOC policy
“First and foremost, the construction of a new whitewater canoe/ kayak stadium is in conflict with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) policy of using existing facilities, particularly in the case of a one-sport stadium such as this. Intended to avoid a legacy of white elephant facilities, the IOC policy says the event should be moved to an existing stadium outside the host city or if need be, outside the host country. Clearly the existing Olympic 2000 Whitewater Stadium in Penrith, New South Wales should be used in 2032 and we believe Penrith City Council would be receptive to the idea,” says Lavinia Wood, President of the Community Alliance for Responsible Planning (CARP) Redlands Inc.
“Building a new Whitewater Stadium will also damage the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games’ capacity to meet contractual IOC obligations to operate as ‘climate positive’. Using the existing Penrith Whitewater Stadium would greatly improve Brisbane 2032’s climate positive credentials and free up 80-100 million dollars as overall Olympic savings or for use in rebuilding storm-devastated communities”.
Little support for whitewater plans
Consultation has shown that what the people of the Redlands really want is to protect and enjoy the cultural heritage and conservation values of the Birkdale site. Steve MacDonald, President of Redlands2030 Inc explains, “Indeed, Council’s insistence that a Whitewater Stadium is a priority for the Redlands community is simply not supported by the findings of Council’s own consultation process. Redland City Council appears to be driving an outcome of its own making. Of equal concern is Council’s apparent failure to understand and disclose to the community the ongoing financial burden that this type of facility is likely to become”.
Wild Koala Refuge & Cultural Heritage Precinct
Koala Action Group Inc. President Debbie Pointing agrees, adding that “The land is currently a safe haven for koalas and other wildlife. A whitewater stadium and other proposed development in the site’s central area will likely compromise Council’s 2019 Conservation Agreement with the Federal Government over the purchase of the land. This agreement is intended to protect the flora and fauna as well as the cultural heritage assets on the land”.
“The Queensland Government has recognised the importance of the Birkdale Precinct and mapped the site accordingly. The proposed Whitewater Stadium is surrounded by Core Koala Habitat and Koala Habitat Restoration Area. This too contravenes IOC Policy which states new venues should not be located in or adjacent to statutory nature, cultural protected areas or World Heritage Sites”.
“This is not the place for a Whitewater Stadium. The Birkdale land is the perfect location to create the ‘Redlands Wild Koala Refuge & Cultural Heritage Precinct’.”
Wildlife Queensland Bayside Inc. President, Steve Homewood concurs, “The desperate plight of koalas in Australia is well known, as is their value to the Australian tourism industry. Developing a Redlands Wild Koala Refuge & Cultural Heritage Precinct on the Birkdale lands, only minutes from a capital city will safeguard koalas and other wildlife, and will bring domestic and international tourists to the Redlands before, during and long after the 2032 Olympic Games”.
Co-Coordinator of ACF Community Bayside Inc, Tania Kromoloff adds, “We now have the Federal Government’s State of the Environment Report 2021 which details the appalling state of Australia’s ecosystems and the wild creatures they support. The Birkdale Community Precinct is a natural fit for a Wildlife Rehabilitation and Release Centre, not only supporting our local wildlife but becoming a tourist drawcard in itself”.
Cultural and Heritage values
The Birkdale Progress Association Inc has long cherished and battled to protect the Indigenous Cultural, European and Natural Heritage values of the Birkdale site, including Willards Farm and the US Army-built World War II Radio Receiving Station. President Pam Spence is adamant, “Our fascinating and unique Aboriginal Cultural and European Heritage values should take precedence over a whitewater stadium, to form an intrinsic part of the ‘Redlands Wild Koala Refuge & Cultural Heritage Precinct’. From this starting point the community can design a special place for young and old alike. This is the intergenerational legacy we want to create”.
This is not about being anti-Olympics. It’s about recognising the most valuable and lasting contribution that Redland City Council can make to the 2032 Olympic Games, and to the Redlands community. We call on the Premier & Minister for the Olympics, the Hon Annastacia Palaszczuk, to protect this legacy by naming the Penrith Whitewater Stadium the 2032 Olympic Canoe/ Kayak venue.
Community groups opposing whitewater plans
| Lavinia Wood President CARP-Redlands Inc. | Steve Homewood President Wildlife Queensland Bayside Inc. |
| Debbie Pointing President Koala Action Group Inc. | Steve MacDonald President Redlands2030 Inc. |
| Pam Spence President Birkdale Progress Association Inc. | Tania Kromoloff Co-Coordinator ACF Community Bayside Inc. |
Published by Redlands2030 – 15 August 2022
Here’s an easy way to send a message to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk asking her to save taxpayers’ and ratepayers’ money by using the existing Penrith whitewater facility for the 2032 Olympics instead of building a new facility on the Birkdale lands.
Wild koalas not whitewater elephant – a letter to the Queensland Premier
18 August 2022
Updated 14 February 2024 with image of Kasai Canoe Slalom Centre, in Tokyo on July 19, 2021 (Photo by YUKI IWAMURA/AFP via Getty Images) replacing previous image.
Please note: Offensive or off-topic comments will be deleted. If offended by any published comment please email thereporter@redlands2030.net
8 Comments
Please don’t build white water rafting and take away the homes of the few koalas we have left! This is just irresponsible and unwanted in this area. There has been too much growth of housing in this area already, and people are living so close to each other we need to keep any vacant land we have as we don’t want a cement bungle
Redland Residents don’t want or need the water park! What we need is to protect our precious koalas, before they become extinct. Redlands council need to support what the residents of the redland city want it’s them who pay their wages! All they think about is the money!
Please leave land for these beautiful animals. You’ve taken enough! When will the greed end?
80-100 million could be better used to build a 5 or 6 story new Redland hospital that is desperately needed for our growing community. This on top of the money to be allocated to the ICU and additional beds allocated to the current facility, and on too of money already allocated to the satellite hospital. Included in a new multi story hospital, could be a Cath lab & MRI machine so external facilities don’t have to be used. Which costs QH a great deal of money and uses up QAS resources. It only seems right to build a new hospital, when we are a growing community and will have a carpark that will be paid for. Building a new hospital with better facilities will encourage current staff to stay, and encourage future staff to work in the Redlands. Why would staff pay to work at the current campus when they could go to Logan or PAH where facilities are amazing and opportunities for career growth are available to all.
So true
The last thing we want here in the Redlands is a white water facility. A koala sanctuary would be more appreciated and appropriate. Too many of our icons , the koalas, have met their death with overdevelopment.
Redland City Council community consultation has demonstrated that a white water rafting facility is not a priority for Redlands residents. A more suitable venue for white water events at the 2032 Olympic Games should be built at a central location on the Brisbane River. This would be closer to the airport, accommodation, and existing infrastructure. Appropriate professionals should be engaged to design this facility as part of flood mitigation measures. A suburban location where wildlife habitat is already under pressure is out of the question as is any form of massive construction.
IIt seems to me our Council is unable to manage a consultation process with integrity.
Isn’t it the job of all Councillors to protect the public interest….that is the job?
If they can’t do that …. and it seems they can’t…they should resign.