The Queensland Government announced its 2032 Delivery Plan on Tuesday 25 March 2025, which included that a new Redland Whitewater Centre will be delivered within the future Birkdale Community Precinct, Redlands Coast’s master-planned premium parkland.
The Redland Whitewater Centre will be funded by the Australian and Queensland governments, and planned and delivered by the Queensland Government.
Project planning for the Redland Whitewater Centre is ongoing.
The Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority’s Project Validation Report (PVR) process – or business case – on the Redland Whitewater Centre is in progress and, upon completion, will be considered by the Australian and Queensland governments for an investment decision.
As the reports are finalised, summaries of completed PVRs or Business Cases for sport venues will be available for everyone to view at GIICA.au/about/venues-and-villages.
Birkdale Community Precinct is owned by Redland City Council, along with existing infrastructure at the site including the heritage-listed Willards Farm and former World War II Radio Receiving Station, and new community infrastructure including the Redland Whitewater Centre.
The total area for the Birkdale Community Precinct is 62 hectares, which comprises a 36-hectare conservation area. The Redland Whitewater Centre will be located on existing cleared space outside of the conservation area, comprising about 18 per cent of the 26-hectare core parkland, and about eight per cent of the total area of Birkdale Community Precinct.
Council will be referring the Birkdale Community Precinct, which includes the site for the Redland Whitewater Centre, for assessment under the Australian Government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Designed for all ages and abilities, the Redland Whitewater Centre will offer activities like tubing on calm waters, learning water safety, beginner paddling, and even tackling rapids for canoeing, kayaking, and rafting. This year-round venue will be a great spot for families, emergency services and athletes. It is earmarked to host the Canoe Slalom events for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Redland Whitewater Centre is anticipated to be open in 2028, providing impact and advance legacy well before and long after the Games.
Council has consistently advocated to other levels of government for transport infrastructure improvements that are vital for the delivery of this project – in particular, the extension of the Eastern Transitway to Capalaba and the much-needed duplication of the rail line to Cleveland. It is expected that being an event venue city will bring forward these works with commitments from the Queensland and Australian Governments.
