Rodney Stevens
Olympic and Paralympic teams and athletes competing in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics could stay and train in the Clarence Valley if council are successful in their bid to be a base for competitors.
Hosting teams and athletes was raised at the March 28 ordinary council meeting as councillors discussed the development of a new Tourism and Destination Marketing Plan.
Cr Bill Day moved the motion that council:
- note development of a new Tourism and Destination Marketing plan and include the provision of information to visitors on and after arrival in the Clarence Valley, to be included in the draft operational plan and budget 2023/2024 for consideration.
- note that a Tourism Special Rate Variation was embedded in the rating structures inherited by Clarence Valley Council at amalgamation, and this was calculated to be worth $176,000 on 28/06/2013 in a report to a State Upper House Inquiry by CVC Director Environment, Planning and Infrastructure.
- write to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games organising committees to register the Clarence Valley’s interest in being considered as a base for athletes, teams or events prior to or during the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic events.
The motion was seconded by Cr Jeff Smith.
Speaking in favour of the motion, Cr Day said ‘if you don’t have a plan, you don’t know where you’re going, and you don’t know when you get there, we desperately need some new tourism plan.’
He said he would like to see council’s new tourism plan prepared ‘in house by council staff’, assisted by a sub-committee of councillors.
Cr Day said with item 2 in the motion he wanted to clarify that the Tourism Special Rate Variation of $176,000 embedded in rating structures inherited by Clarence Valley Council at amalgamation ‘wasn’t just a myth’.
After exhausting his time limit to speak, Cr Day described item 3 in his motion, the bid to host Olympic and Paralympic Teams in the Clarence Valley as a ‘no brainer’ for ‘council to enter into communications with the Brisbane Olympic committees.’
Also speaking in favour of the motion, Cr Jeff Smith said the Clarence Valley had previously hosted Olympic athletes and teams.
“Back in 2000, those that may remember we had, I think, three rowing teams on the Clarence, two based in Grafton and one in Maclean,” he said.
“They then went onto the Olympics in Sydney.
“There is possible opportunity there and one must try.”
A Clarence Valley Council spokesperson said the potential benefits of successfully attracting one or more competing countries’ teams to train in and utilise the assets of the Clarence Valley include additional investment in infrastructure, increased use of accommodation, tourism and entertainment.
Olympic and Paralympic sports that could be hosted in the Clarence Valley include rowing, kayaking, white water rafting, equestrian, hockey and surfing.
The motion was passed by councillors unanimously.