Australian floods impact rowing clubs

Severe flooding in Queensland, Australia has left rowing boathouses submerged in Brisbane, Bundaberg and Rockhampton.

“The whole of Brisbane city has been shut down,” says Rowing Australia’s Team Manager Ray Ebert who works in the city. “Every boatshed in Brisbane, Bundaberg and Rockhampton was affected by the floods.”

Ebert says that most boat clubs had enough warning and were able to get boats to higher ground with some having to move their boats twice. “Every club had to be completely evacuated,” says Ebert. “They will probably be able to start coming back this weekend.”

For the Centenary Rowing Club, the newest rowing club in Brisbane (established in 2001), water rose as high as the roof.

Centenary Rowing Club’s website states, “Within only hours the Centenary Rowing Club's brand new facility came under heavy attack from the harsh fury of nature. Rising flood levels have in a matter of hours, caused extensive damage to the new pontoon and surrounding areas. Upon hearing the news over 100 rowers, coaches and club members alike sprang into action in moving all low lying equipment and boats from the site to various locations including houses, storage sites and back yards.”

To put the amount of water into perspective Ebert describes Lake Wivenhoe on the Brisbane River. The man-made lake hosted the 1993 and 2001 National Rowing Championships but has not been used for five years because drought conditions meant the water level was too low. Now it is at 191 per cent – nearly double its full capacity.

The impact will stretch into the future for this rowing season and the clubs. Contaminated water means that even once the less damaged clubs are back in working order the Brisbane River and other bodies of water will be too polluted to row on. 

“The water is shocking,” says Ebert. “It won’t be rowable for weeks.”

The floods will also impact hugely on the Queensland rowing season. The high school season is about to start but Ebert says it may not start this year.

The nearest rowable club is Pine Rivers Rowing Club on Lake Kurwongbah which Ebert says should be open again in a couple of weeks. “The elite rowers are all heading for Kurwongbah,” says Ebert.

Rowing Australia has started an appeal to help the Queensland rowing clubs that have been affected. The Rowing Australia press release states, “RA will coordinate efforts to provide assistance to those who require help in the aftermath of the floods. More details on this will be provided once the full extent of the damage is known.

“Due to the extent of loss and damage to the rowing infrastructure and equipment in the region RA is coordinating a ‘boat loan’ program for affected schools and clubs that wish to compete at the 2011 Australian Rowing Championships.”

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