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Fitzroy River Olympics: Dredging Costs Soar Beyond 2032
24 Mar
Summary
- Fitzroy River dredging for Olympics requires ongoing, long-term expense.
- Expert estimates $400 million cost figure may be too conservative.
- River widening upstream of Rockhampton CBD is part of the plan.
Plans to modify Rockhampton's Fitzroy River for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games would incur substantial ongoing expenses, extending far beyond the event itself. According to a high-level expert in river flows, maintaining the river as an elite competition venue would require continuous major investment.
A feasibility study indicated that the river would need to be widened and dredged to provide a fair course for the rowing events. This would involve altering a section of the Fitzroy River upstream from the Rockhampton CBD to accommodate the required dimensions for the rowing course.
Professor David Hamilton, director of Griffith University's Australian Rivers Institute, suggested that the reported cost of $400 million might be an underestimate. He believes that the financial commitment required for such modifications and ongoing maintenance would likely exceed initial projections.
