International Rowing Course Proposed for Western Australia

Planning is well underway to build a new rowing course at Armadale a suburb of Perth in Western Australia. The proposed course will be part of a 120-hectare facility called Champion Lakes about 30 kilometres from central Perth.

The facility, which would fully comply with FISA standards, is to be similar to the Sydney Olympic Course at Penrith with a warm up lake adjacent connected to the main course by a canal. It would be 2,200 metres in length, 150 metres wide and a consistent depth of 4.5 metres. The course would be a great boost to rowing on the Australian West Coast that has struggled over the years to find a suitable course.

Western Australian Rowing President Craig James said: “we currently use the Canning River course, it is good but we have to compete with other water users during racing and training. The new facility will be a huge boost for our rowers. Being some 30 kilometres inland similar to Penrith it will be not subject to the famous sea breeze ‘The Fremantle Doctor’.” Craig said that the facility is well advanced in planning stages. “We are awaiting for the government to give the ongoing commitment to the upkeep of the facility once built.  We are hoping to bid for the 2006 National Championships, with the first rowers using the course in 2005.”

Craig also added that as Rowing Australia is considering a bid for the 2010 World Championships the west would probably put their hat in the ring. Craig emphasised that the facilty would be multi purpose for all water users not just rowers. An example of this is that a whitewater course will also be built in the facility.