Residents in Mango Hill, Queensland, will not see Olympic rowing in their local area after the Deputy Premier confirmed the events will stay in Rockhampton for the Brisbane 2032 Games. During a visit to the community on 11 February, 2026, Jarrod Bleijie said the state government is committed to holding the competition on the Fitzroy River instead of moving it to the south-east.
The decision means a local proposal from the City of Moreton Bay to use a former quarry at Lawnton for the races will not go ahead. Mr Bleijie told residents that the event would not happen at all if it were moved away from Rockhampton. He noted that the state and federal governments are spending $7.1 billion on venues, which gives the state the final say on where they are built.
Local leaders had hoped that hosting the rowing would bring new construction and traffic improvements to the region near Mango Hill. However, the state government has turned down the alternative plan to focus on bringing the benefits of the Games to regional Queensland. The choice of the northern river has faced criticism from some federal officials due to concerns about crocodiles and water quality.
Technical reviews by World Rowing and the International Canoe Federation are still being carried out to check if the site is suitable. The Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority is also continuing to look at the safety and technical standards of the river before a final sign-off is given.
