Queensland’s Fitzroy River in Rockhampton has been approved to host rowing and canoe sprint events at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics, despite being home to about 500 saltwater crocodiles. However, the main concern among rowing officials and athletes has been whether the river’s bends, tidal currents and possible flooding could provide fair and consistent racing conditions.

More than 600 young rowers are competing there this weekend, while the venue has undergone a technical assessment examining its riverbed, course, water flows, levels and expected weather. Although crocodiles can reach four metres and are regularly seen, government records show no attacks on people in more than 40 years; other concerns include the venue’s distance from Brisbane—around 600km—and its long-term sustainability.