Canberra is to host several Olympic rowing events under an arrangement between the ACT Government and the Sydney Olympics Organising Committee. (?)
Under the arrangement the ACT has to extend the present 1800-metre rowing course in Lake Burley Griffin (between the Governor-General’s residence and Lady Denman Drive) to a full-size 2000-metre course and build two spectator stands.
To accommodate the extra 200 metres, some modification to the lake shoreline will be needed. Several hectares along Yarramundi shoreline will be sliced off and pushed into the lake. (See map.)
The Chief Minister, Kate Carnell, was to make the announcement with great fanfare today, but The Canberra Times has learnt of the plans earlier.
It is understood Mrs Carnell wanted to add to the Futsal stadium and other developments around the lake to bring employment opportunities and to bring more life into the centre of the city.
Olympics officials say the Lake Burley Griffin site is ideal for world class rowing with a quite rare combination of features. It is comparatively deep being near the dam wall and deep water is preferred because there are fewer breaking waves is lower. The site is sheltered from the prevailing wind by Black Mountain and other hills, being in a narrow neck of water. Canberra has a low-rainfall, low-wind climate. This makes for glassy water ideal for rowing.
Few places have such an ideal combination for rowing and it has impressed Sydney officials. The only drawback is the need for a full 2000-metre course and this can be quickly and cheaply achieved by carving in to Yarramundi.
A spokesman for the ACT Government …..