Croc and elephant fears lurk over Olympic rowing venue

Robyn Wuth | March 27, 2026

A row over 2032 rowing has escalated after Olympians claimed a crocodile habitat set to host the sport will become a white elephant.

Hundreds of rowers have slammed the Queensland government’s refusal to reconsider staging a “picnic regatta” at Rockhampton’s Fitzroy River in an open letter featuring Olympic gold medallists.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie has come under fire for his “blunt, closed approach”, with critics claiming the rowing venue will be costly to build, even more expensive to maintain and underused post-Games.

“It’s a fabulous place to row, but it’s like trying to hold the Olympics in Birdsville – it just doesn’t make sense,” letter co-author and Rowunion chairman Gary Merritt told AAP on Friday. 

“They won’t be able to maintain the course, it won’t get the use – they’re spending a lot of taxpayer dollars to build what will be a huge white elephant.”

The clash has erupted after insights into fears of a growing crocodile problem on the central Queensland river were shared, dramatically dropping recreational use of the waterway.

The Fitzroy River has sparked debate since the home for freshwater crocs was unveiled by the state government as the Games rowing venue a year ago.

It has ramped up after the open letter signed by 542 rowers featuring more than 50 Olympians was sent to the state government asking for the 2032 venue to be built in southeast Queensland.

An alternative proposal at Moreton Bay, north of Brisbane, is being promoted by the local council as a world‑standard course at roughly half the cost of Rockhampton’s site.

Mr Merritt criticised the deputy premier after refusing to reconsider the venue and dismissing the letter signed off by the likes of Oarsome Foursome member Drew Ginn, calling them “agitators”.

“He’s tried to dismiss everybody as elites and agitators … but this is going to be a course for the very best in the world,” Mr Merritt said.

“He’s trying to build a picnic regatta course and we want something that is up to world international standard.

“We’re just asking for an open mind — and a venue that Queensland can actually afford to use after the Olympics are gone.”

Raising fears over the Fitzroy River venue’s Olympic legacy, Mr Merritt said there were only about 200 active rowers in Rockhampton compared with about 5000 statewide.

Sydney’s Penrith course, developed for the 2000 Olympics, remains world-class and hosts about 400 events a year.

The open letter said a similar legacy was only realistic if the 2032 venue was built in the southeast close to where most rowers actually lived and trained. 

“Southeast Queensland – where almost 80 per cent of the state’s rowing participants live – has not had a consistent permanent home for rowing for decades,” it said.

“The Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games represent a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address this gap.”

It argued the Fitzroy River’s regular flooding and heavy silt loads would demand constant dredging and repairs to keep an Olympic‑standard course open.

There were also crocodile concerns with recreational use of the river dropping as reptile numbers and sightings increase, the Rockhampton Water Ski Club said.

“Social recreation is almost non-existent,” club president Peter Darby wrote in a 2025 submission to debate over a proposed crocodile conservation bill. 

“Almost every year there has been a trap installed, or a known crocodile threat occurs which has caused the postponement or cancellation of recreational events.” 

Huge crocodiles have been sighted in the river in recent years, including a 5.2m reptile that was shot in 2017.

A 4.6m crocodile was trapped and removed in 2023 while a 2.5m crocodile evaded two capture attempts, Mr Darby said. 

The Queensland government has been contacted for comment.