Adventure Afloat

An Olympic-standard adventure water sports precinct is being considered for Redlands Coast.

Redland City Council has ordered a feasibility study into the concept, which would have the potential to lure international canoe and kayaking competitions to the city.

The feasibility study will also look at the merits of locating other sports and activities, as well as emergency rescue training facilities, within the precinct.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said a first-class white-water sports park would be a huge drawcard for Redlands Coast and capitalise on its developing adventure tourism potential.

“We will now get together with the necessary stakeholder groups to see what we need to do to make this happen,” Cr Williams said.

“With more than 300km of coast, we are already a popular destination for canoeing, kayaking and other adventure water sports. Adding a world-standard whitewater element to that could help develop that into a huge niche tourism market. Along with our top-class mountain bike

trails, it would put Redlands Coast in the frame for major national and international competitions and put us near the top of the queue as a venue in any future South-East Queensland Olympic Games. Incorporating other recreational uses as well as co-locating it with emergency rescue training would ensure its sustainability in the long term.

“For generations, our Traditional Owners, the Quandamooka people, have used canoeing as a means of transport around the coast and islands and this history and traditional connection to canoeing has the potential to create a significant cultural legacy through a world-class sporting facility, which can in turn create tourism and economic activity for the Redlands Coast.”

Cr Williams said such a facility would be designed to an Olympic standard to allow it to be used as a venue for a potential South-East Queensland Olympic Games, which is currently being investigated by the SEQ Council of Mayors.

“A potential Olympics bid for the region is seen as a catalyst to securing the transport infrastructure needed for South-East Queensland. For Redlands Coast that includes the duplication of the Cleveland rail line and extension of the Eastern Busway to Capalaba, helping our residents get around safer and faster.”

As part of the SEQ Olympics investigations, Redlands Coast was identified as a potential location for a white-water facility.