Just days after the state government trumpeted an apparent victory over its Rockhampton Olympic rowing course, the sport’s international bodies have dampened down the premature party.
On Friday evening, a joint statement from World Rowing, alongside Paddle Worldwide, Rowing Australia, and Paddle Australia said the state’s as-yet-unreleased independent report on the Fitzroy River course was not the final step of a full international sign-off.
“As part of the next phase of venue planning, which includes the project validation report process led by the Games Independent Infrastructure Coordination Authority (GIICA), several additional elements are requested to be confirmed,” World Rowing said in a statement.
These “technical details” included confirmation that athletes would have access to services and facilities, the rowing bodies said.
“We look forward to continuing to work closely with all stakeholders on requests and updates ahead of 2032,” the statement read.
On Thursday, when the state announced the findings from the independent report – carried out by WaterProof Marine Consultancy – Premier David Crisafulli said both World Rowing and Paddle Worldwide had endorsed the course.
The premier said it passed its assessment “with flying colours”, and that the state’s hand-picked venue was “signed, sealed and delivered”.
However, under pressure to release the full report, the government withheld it on Friday, drawing ire from Queensland’s rowing community.
QRowunion chairman Gary Merritt said Thursday’s announcement echoed premature assurances by Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie that the Rockhampton course was suitable while the state watched it flood.
“I’m sure there is a lot more to what’s going on. This government pulled the same stunt back in March and announced it was all signed, sealed and delivered,” Merritt said.
“They’ve done the same again now.”
On Thursday, Bleijie said the Fitzroy River course had to clear a few checks and balances, including the ongoing GIICA project validation report.
He said the report was about 80 per cent complete and the authority would deliver it to the government in coming months.
The state has also repeatedly batted off concerns about the river’s crocodile population.
This weekend’s Queensland Schools’ Championship Regatta has safety protocols in place, including an emergency call of “crocodile, crocodile, crocodile” if one is spotted along the course.
Earlier this month, global authorities at World Rowing’s 2026 congress in Amsterdam voiced doubts about the Fitzroy River’s suitability, with leading figures questioning the Queensland government’s decision to snub already-built facilities near Sydney.
Concerns about the central Queensland course included its distance from the Olympic host city, as well as available facilities for athletes.
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