The International Olympic Committee has approved Rockhampton’s Fitzroy River as a venue for rowing and canoe sprint events at the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games. The decision followed an independent technical assessment endorsed by World Rowing and Paddle Worldwide, although the assessment has not been released publicly.
The venue has faced sustained questions over crocodiles, flooding, accommodation and the river’s suitability for international competition. Queensland officials said the assessment found the Fitzroy capable of supporting a full-length flatwater course with consistent conditions. World Rowing president Jean-Christophe Rolland said the results showed the river could provide fair competition conditions.
Crocodile numbers have been a particular focus because Rockhampton is within Queensland’s so-called croc country. Department of Environment and Science modelling recorded about 0.2 crocodiles per kilometre in the area in 2019. John Lever, owner of Koorana Crocodile Farm, said reports of large numbers had been exaggerated and that few crocodiles were present in the freshwater section. He said there had been no great threat to rowers, noting that schoolchildren use the river regularly.
A department spokesperson told ABC News there had never been a documented negative interaction between humans and crocodiles in the Rockhampton region. However, University of Queensland crocodile expert Emeritus Professor Craig Franklin described the Olympic decision as foolish and misguided, warning that an encounter could have lethal consequences. A four-metre crocodile was spotted at a Fitzroy River water-sports area near Rockhampton in 2023.
Questions also remain about water conditions and future infrastructure. Queensland Row Union president Gary Merritt said the current could disappear during prolonged dry periods when the Fitzroy River Barrage is closed. He also warned that flooding could damage the two-kilometre Olympic course and said infrastructure on the riverbanks still required review.
The Queensland Games Delivery Plan promises upgraded permanent infrastructure and amenities, but specific plans have not been finalised. Capricorn Enterprise says the region needs another 1,200 short-term accommodation rooms by 2032, while its chief executive Mary Carroll said discussions with potential investors had begun. Up to 800 athletes are expected at a school regatta on the river, where the safety plan recognises the presence of crocodiles.