Olympics rowing doubt raised again after fresh croc sighting on Fitzroy River
A fresh crocodile sighting on the banks of the Fitzroy River has reignited debate on the suitability of the Rockhampton river hosting rowing and canoeing events in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
A large crocodile was spotted on the banks of the river at the North Rockhampton Golf Club on Saturday, with the club sharing an image of the croc on social media.
The crocodile was found near the 11th hole at the golf course, sitting on the banks of the Fitzroy River. North Rockhampton Golf Club
“Be aware people there is a crocodile on the edge of the 11th hole fairway,” it said, with the crocodile seen lying prone and facing the river.
The golf club sits opposite the Fitzroy Rowing Club, and puts a renewed spotlight on the decision to choose the river as the venue for several events at the 2032 Olympics.
In September, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said the river had passed a safety review “with flying colours” after concerns emerged over the presence of crocodiles in the river.
He hit out at rowing officials from around the world who criticised the choice of holding events in Rockhampton, accusing them of being “overseas elites”.
“I’ve seen some of the commentary and I make the observation that some of the interstate and overseas elites are thumbing their nose because it’s being held in a regional centre and that’s what this is about,” Crisafulli said in September.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has hit out at criticism of the Fitzroy River. 9News
“Let’s be honest, let’s scratch beneath the surface and call it for what it is.
“It’s a group of interstate and overseas elites who don’t want to go to a regional area.”
Earlier this year, almost 6000 people had signed a petition for the venue to be changed due to concerns about athlete safety while competing alongside crocodiles.
The safety review into the use of the Fitzroy River for rowing events was completed by the International Olympic Committee, and included on-water investigations into how the course would perform, water levels, and flood risk.
However, there was a reported crocodile sighting on the river in September during the Queensland school rowing championship competition, where hundreds of schoolchildren were competing.
One crocodile farmer told nine.com.au in March last year that Olympic organisers would be able to manage the crocodiles in that stretch of the river as the water temperature would be too low and “make them lethargic”.
“They don’t eat much and they don’t move much; they just struggle to keep warm,” John Lever, a crocodile farmer from Central Queensland, said.
“They can’t digest food under about 25 degrees, so all the incentives to attack people are gone.”
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