‘I’d row the Fitzroy’: Croc concerns for Olympic rowing dismissed
Queensland’s attorney-general insists crocodiles wouldn’t stop her rowing on Rockhampton’s Fitzroy River, the proposed location for rowing events in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, after International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials expressed concerns.
“I’m not a great rower, I’ll give you that, my husband will attest that I probably would need an Olympian with me to make sure that I don’t turn it over, but I would row on the Fitzroy, absolutely,” Deb Frecklington said today.
A crocodile warning sign on the banks of the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton. Sylvia Liber
“I, for one, can’t wait for rowing to be in Rocky.”
IOC officials expressed serious reservations about the safety of athletes at a meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland yesterday, The Australian reported.
“But the crocodiles will be behind a fence, won’t they?” one official asked.
When told saltwater crocodiles lived in the river where the rowing and canoe sprint events were to be held, the official reportedly shook their head.
“If an athlete was to get bitten, this would be the end of the Games,” the official said.
The government’s insistence the rowing be held in Rockhampton since it was announced by Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie last year has confused many in the sport.
Rowing Australia (RA) has previously used the river as a training venue but there is fierce debate over whether it is suitable for competition.
Almost 6000 people have now signed a petition to have the rowing moved to a purpose‑built venue on the Lawnton Lakes in the Moreton Bay region north of Brisbane.
The petition argues rowing on a natural river would compromise fairness as the current would lead to certain lanes being more favourable.
It also warns the Fitzroy is prone to flooding and a disaster shortly before the Games would risk the event being held fairly and safely.
An Olympic official asked if the salties would be fenced off from the competition. Supplied
“The Queensland government plans to spend hundreds of millions on a flood-prone river course 600km from Brisbane - serving just 200 local rowers while ignoring more than 5000 rowers across South East Queensland (SEQ),” the petition reads.
“This isn’t a legacy. It’s a costly mistake. Help us fix this now.”
World Rowing is assessing the river’s suitability.
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