Crocodiles and Currents: Brisbane 2032 Defends Fitzroy River Rowing Site

Fitzroy River remains 2032 Rowing venue as World Rowing set to inspect

Brisbane 2032 says rowing stays on the Fitzroy River. Athletes cite crocodiles and unfair currents, but organisers aren’t considering alternatives.

2032 Olympics not considering moving rowing from crocodile habitat...

Brisbane 2032 organisers are not looking at alternatives to the Fitzroy River in central Queensland for rowing, an official said Thursday, despite concerns about a venue known for strong tides and crocodiles.

The Rockhampton waterway, a natural crocodile habitat roughly 600 km (370 miles) north of Brisbane, drew mixed reactions when it was proposed as an Olympic venue a year ago, largely because of its currents.

Former Olympic rowing champion Drew Ginn said some athletes could be disadvantaged by lane placement on the river, and a council in northern Brisbane has put forward its own venue in Moreton Bay.

Queensland state Olympic minister Tim Mander said organisers are not considering other options, however.

“We are committed to it, we're not looking at alternatives. The rowing will ⁠be at Rockhampton,” he told reporters in Brisbane.

“There's no reason to be looking at alternatives when you have the level of confidence that we have.”

POV: paddling on the stunning Fitzroy River in winter.

The water is like glass putting all this nonsense about streamflow to rest.

And how good does Australia look!

Thanks to Andrew Miller and the Fitzroy canoe club for the footage. He has been paddling the river for decades… pic.twitter.com/xjVSRE30Wf

— Senator Matt Canavan (@mattjcan) June 16, 2025

About 500 rowers signed an open letter last month calling for the Fitzroy River proposal to be reconsidered.

The river cleared initial testing by the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority last October.

A World Rowing expert is set to assess the venue in the coming weeks and decide whether to approve it for the Games by mid-year.

World Rowing flagged potential issues in a statement last year but said it would work with stakeholders to protect athlete safety and competition integrity.

Mander said World Rowing’s upcoming assessment is routine.