LEADERS have expressed renewed hope for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games rowing to be held at Wyaralong Dam.
It comes in the wake of the 2026 Queensland Rowing Championships, which attracted top rowers to the Queensland State Rowing Centre at Wyaralong.
The venue had previously been tipped to host the Brisbane 2032 rowing and paddle events but lost out to Rockhampton as the Queensland Government moved to spread events out across the state.
Scenic Rim Councillor for the Sport and Recreation Portfolio Cr Steve Moriarty, who was at the recent state championships, said the region was ready and willing to step up to the plate should Rockhampton prove to be unviable.
“I spoke with a number of rowing officials, rowers and their family members, all of whom indicated that they would love the Olympic growing in 2032 to be at Wyaralong,” he said.
“It’s a wonderful rowing venue, it’s a very fair course and most likely the best rowing course in Queensland and there’s a very strong feeling among the rowing community that the rowing should be at Wyaralong in 2032.”
A top venue
Rowing Queensland CEO Anthea O’Loughlin made it clear that the body simply wanted to see rowing remain in Queensland and would support government and Olympic committee decisions on the matter.
In response questions from the Bulletin, she spoke highly about Wyaralong Dam as a venue.
“We not only have, Queensland state championships but we have a huge GPS boys’ season and the Brisbane Schoolgirls Rowing Association. Both have over 1000 athletes each, 2000 or 3000 supporters coming to watch,” she said.
“It’s one of the only 10 lane buoyed courses in the world and having those 10 lanes allows for big competition. No other state in Australia has that, so we can cater to a really big number of athletes.”
Buchholz calls Canavan out
Federal Member for Wright Scott Buchholz laughed at suggestions from Senator Matt Canavan that the Fitzroy River did not flood in winter, making it the best choice for Brisbane 2032.
“I grew up in Rockhampton and I can promise you God doesn’t give a rat’s ass when he sends a flood down the Fitzroy – it can come at any month,” he said.
“There’s a reason Rowing Queensland didn’t have the state championships in Rockhampton – it was flooding.
“That course has had to be reinstated four times because it just keeps getting washed away.”
The contest for the Olympic rowing has since intensified with the City of Moreton Bay also launching a campaign to be the rowing and paddle venue for 2032.
