New rowing facility to be "world class"

[Egan]

ARMADALE is on course to develop an international-standard rowing course and an artificial whitewater canoeing facility in Westfield.

The proposed 120ha facility called Champion Lakes would be built near Wright Lake, providing a welcome boost to the area and becoming only the third international-standard rowing course in the country.

The public can comment on an environmental review of the plan, proposed by the City of Armadale and the WA Planning Commission, before it goes to Cabinet.

Rowing WA president Craig James said the new facility would be vital to hosting competitions, from State to international level, and for training. It would replace the substandard Canning River course, developed for the 1962 Commonwealth Games, which varied in depth and was affected by the tide.

The new circuit would be constructed by building a 4.5m deep lake, 2200m long and 150m wide.

Competitors would be able to warm up and cool down at another lake connected to the race area by a canal.

Mr James said the construction would be economical because sand excavated to build the lake would be used in the Tonkin Highway extension.

He said the facilities could also be used by dragon boat racers. Paths surrounding the lakes would be a popular skating area for the public.

"I see this as a fantastic opportunity for the south-east corridor," he said. "We are looking at a multi-purpose facility - rowing will be just one of the groups that will benefit."

Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said the canoe course would include rapids. Champion Lakes would have short-stay accommodation and an interpretive centre showing the site's Aboriginal heritage.

Armadale mayor Linton Reynolds said he was excited by the proposed facilities, which would hopefully open in 2005. "It is very important in the context of us rebadging Armadale and revitalising it," he said.

He hoped the facility would attract European competitors to train during their winter.

Minister for Sport and Recreation Alan Carpenter said the Government was conducting a study to determine the cost of the project, which was due to be completed with the public environmental review in April.