Submission objecting to proposed Redlands Whitewater Centre
By Redlands2030 / December 14, 2024
Here is the link to the Redlands 2030 site: https://redlands2030.net/submission-objecting-to-proposed-redlands-whitewater-centre/
Redlands residents have a brief opportunity to have a say about Redland City Council’s proposed Redlands Whitewater Centre which is not supported by the Redlands community.
The Queensland Government recently tasked the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority with undertaking a 100 day review of venues and other infrastructure for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics.
The 100 day review will include a public submissions process. Submissions can be made online via a Submissions Portal.
The period for making submissions is from 10 December 2024 until 10 January 2025.
If you wish to oppose Redland City Council’s proposal for construction of a new Olympic whitewater stadium on the Birkdale Lands, you can copy the template submission below and paste it into the submission box provided by the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority.
Have your say about the proposed Redlands Whitewater Centre
Dear Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority
I object to the 2032 Olympics Redlands Whitewater Centre proposed for the Birkdale Community Precinct, for the following reasons:
#1 Redland City Council made 2032 Whitewater Centre Olympic Games bid commitments without any prior community engagement. Subsequently, the Redlands community clearly indicated that this facility is not wanted. Most recently, a July 2024 survey showed that 79% of the Redlands residents surveyed do NOT want a new Whitewater Centre, and only 9% are in favour – with 12% undecided.
#2 A Whitewater Centre is the short straw of Olympic venues; they are among the least valuable in terms of community use and appeal – compared to useful facilities like an Olympic swimming pool, or a four-court indoor sport centre.
#3 There is no water supply on the Birkdale site. Millions of litres of water from the SEQ Grid would have to be piped in, retained and sanitised to operate the facility – at great economic cost to Redlands ratepayers, with ongoing negative environmental impact.
#4 Olympic Whitewater Centres run at a significant loss, and end up as abandoned ruins, or a never-ending financial burden on the public purse. Redland City Council already imposes the highest rates and water charges in South East Queensland.
#5 Building this industrial-scale concrete edifice on the Birkdale lands would likely cause untold harm to the fragile aquifer and the groundwater dependent ecosystems which sustain the koalas, other wildlife and unique vegetation Redlanders wish to protect.
#6 Redland City Council is required to refer the Whitewater Centre project for EPBC review by the Federal Government which could delay the project considerably, or stop it.
#7 A Conservation Agreement between Redland City Council and the Federal Government was a condition of the purchase of the land; the Agreement is intended to protect the conservation values of the Birkdale site and to provide a net benefit for conservation and biodiversity; the Agreement has not yet been finalised.
#8 The mooted Rescue & Resilience Training Centre is a State Government responsibility. The Olympic Games will not fund it. If truly needed, it should be in a central location where necessary power and water infrastructure is already available.
#9 The IOC’s ‘New Norm’ Policy says existing venues should be used – even if in another city or country. The 2032 Olympic Canoe Slalom events should be held in the recently-upgraded Penrith Whitewater Stadium in New South Wales.
#10 Brisbane is the first city required by its IOC Contract to host a climate-positive games. Construction of a new unnecessary Whitewater facility will result in significant embedded carbon emissions. Electricity required to continually sanitise and pump water around the artificial course will be climate-negative.
#11 Constructing the proposed Redlands Whitewater Centre that Redlanders don’t want, on special conservation lands which Redlanders want protected, would deliver a shameful 2032 Games legacy.
#12 Please stop this Olympic debacle and remove the Redlands Whitewater Centre from the Olympic Venue Plan.
