Crocodile sighting renews concerns over 2032 Olympic rowing venue

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 2 Nov, 10:05 · Archive

A large crocodile spotted at the Fitzroy River in Queensland has prompted fresh calls to relocate the 2032 Brisbane Olympics rowing events.

A large crocodile spotted on the bank of the Fitzroy River at the North Rockhampton Golf Club on Saturday afternoon has prompted fresh calls to relocate the 2032 Brisbane Olympics rowing and canoeing events. The golf club alerted people on social media that a crocodile was seen 'on the edge of the 11th hole fairway'.

The Fitzroy River runs through Rockhampton, about 600 kilometres north of Brisbane. It is home to saltwater crocodiles and is prone to flooding and strong currents that can create uneven competing conditions. Despite these concerns, it remains the chosen destination for the Olympic rowing and canoeing events.

This is the third crocodile sighting in the river this year. Two crocodiles were spotted within 30 days in June, and in September Queensland's crocodile tracking dashboard flagged a saltwater crocodile swimming upstream from the rowing course.

Rowing Australia member Ray Ebert told ABC News Breakfast the fresh sighting was 'a bit of a shock' and urged officials and politicians to reconsider the venue. He said there had been many previous sightings of crocodiles in the river, which has hosted many rowing events in previous years. 'It's not the crocodiles that you can see that I would be worried about, it's the ones that I can't see,' he said.

Ebert acknowledged his concerns about the wider safety of the venue, stating 'I've been saying that the crocodiles are the least of our problems' and 'maybe I was wrong' in his earlier assessment. The International Olympic Committee has completed a safety review of the river, including on-water investigations into water levels, flood risk and how the rowing course would take shape.

How it is being reported

• Fears over safety of Olympic event as croc spottedA croc sighting on central Queensland's Fitzroy River has cast fresh doubt over the site's fitness to host Olympic rowing events in 2032.WAtoday · 2 Nov, 08:27
• Renewed calls to moved 2032 Olympic rowing after huge croc spotted in Fitzroy RiverA concerning sight on the banks of a river, which will act as the rowing venue for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, has sparked renewed calls for relocation.The West Australian · 2 Nov, 03:33
• Renewed calls to moved 2032 Olympic rowing after huge croc spotted in Fitzroy RiverA concerning sight on the banks of a river, which will act as the rowing venue for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, has sparked renewed calls for relocation.Perth Now · 2 Nov, 03:33

In this story: Fitzroy River · Rockhampton · Brisbane · Queensland · 2032 Brisbane Olympics · Rowing Australia · Ray Ebert · International Olympic Committee

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