Wyaralong Rowing Club Inc. (WRC) - Latest Update
A short heads-up on the Wyaralong Rowing Club
Inc. (WRC), of which I am Secretary:- Our Group started as a Steering
Committee about 5 years ago, following publication of plans to proceed
with construction of the Wyaralong Dam, located between Boonah and
Beaudesert. Initially we had opposition from the Qld.
Government, who saw no reason to include
watersports in their allocation of $M4 for recreational activities in
the dam construction budget. Also Rowing Queensland expressed opposition
"…WHAT, rowing as a sport for Government Schools?!" How things have
changed! Particularly since the dam has been found to be quite saline,
too saline to be used for reticulated water! Also with change in
management (and a look at the location) Rowing Queensland are now very
much on side and declaring that the dam is ideal for rowing and has the
potential to be the premier rowing venue in Australia!! We now also have
support from the Queensland Academy of Sport, who wish to use the site
for elite training of rowing. Also the Scenic Rim Regional Council is
highly supportive and local High Schools are very keen to include rowing
in their sport programs.
Our obstacles are these:-
1) The site is not close to a town, there is
Beaudesert 15 km, Boonah 25 km, Brisbane and Gold Coast 80 km. As the
boats are long and fragile (and very expensive), they cannot be
transported to site on a daily basis, hence we need storage facilities
on site. The dam owners, SEQWater, have at this time no mechanism to
lease land, but are working on one. Without a lease or other tenure on
land, we cannot get grants.
2) We need grants to build site facilities, including some earth works at our preferred site.
3) SEQWater are talking about recovery of
operating costs on any dam facility provided for recreation. No
definition of exactly what that means, but could include a few
surprises!
4) There has been a history of short-term dam
closure due to blue-green algae since the dam filled. This, we are told,
will diminish with "ageing" of the dam earthworks.
On the credit side, we have been promised gifts of used boats and equipment from several sources.
A
"Recreation Review" document is due for release by SEQWater later this
month…….This may resolve some of our known problems, but may also raise
new difficulties. We are working closely with Council, State Member Jon
Krause MP and State Minister for Water Mark McArdle MP. Also, of course ,
Rowing Queensland and through them, GPS schools, who also show
interest.
Just where
WRC, Rotary and our eClub fit into this is unclear, but there are
possible synergies/advantages to be considered, not least the
possibility for catering at Rowing Regattas. Note that our WRC President
Graham Porter, is the founder and Past president of the Fassifern
Valley Rotary Club, who are also keen to be involved. The WRC committee of 6 includes 4 Rotarians.
We were aiming to introduce rowing to the local High Schools in 2014, but this now seems unlikely. However we keep trying!
Cheers,
Raimondo
For more information please contact our e-Club liaison Raimondo.