One of the masterminds behind the clean-up of the Seine in Paris, making it suitable for swimmers, believes the same could be done in Brisbane ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Benjamin Raigneau transformed the French river to a spot where swimming was banned for a century to a venue for Olympic triathlon and open water events in a $2.3 billion project.
The suggestion will be a part of Raigneau’s keynote speech at the International River Symposium tomorrow.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has warned Brisbane that no new temporary or bespoke venues should be built for Brisbane 2032.
The state is waiting to receive confirmation about who will lead its 100-day infrastructure review.
Researchers say it is the run-off into the Brisbane River that makes it unhealthy.
“We can certainly improve the water quality to have ‘swimmable’ qualities,” Healthy Land and Water chief executive officer Julie McLellan said.
“The other pollutants you will see, especially from heavy rain will be fecal contamination from overflows and sewage treatment plants and dog parks.”
A clean-up is likely to cost just as much as the cleansing of the Seine but there are other factors to consider before officials send swimmers into the Brisbane River.
“One, it’s tidal so you wouldn’t be jumping in unless you’re an incredibly good swimmer,” McLelland said.
“We do have bullsharks in the river.”
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Even if the river is not used for swimming or the ceremony, the waterway will be integral for tourism during the events and tourism operators believe a clean-up would go a long way.
“Our hero shots are always the CBD and the river and out to the bay as well.. but We are not going to be swimming in the Brisbane River like they did in the Seine,” Brisbane’s deputy mayor Krista Adams said last week.
The 2032 Games will likely need somewhere for a 10-kilometre open water swim, but there are other options.
“As a local, when I go swimming, I don’t choose the Brisbane River, so we’ll choose the Gold Coast, we’ll choose the Sunshine Coast,” Riverlife founder John Sharpe said.
