The new facility has been years in the making through the joint efforts of Dragon Boat ACT and the ACT Government.
25 March 2024
A new state-of-the-art dragon boating facility has opened at Grevillea Park on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin.
Years in the making, the new facility has been finalised through the joint efforts of Dragon Boat ACT and the ACT Government.
It was designed by Cox Architecture and construction was completed by local company Projex.
The facility is equipped with boat storage, training and timekeeping rooms, office space and meeting room, new amenities and changerooms and a marshalling area.
It can support training and competition activities for over 600 members, as well as interstate visitors participating in local and regional regattas.
The building’s opening coincided with the ACT Dragon Boat Championships, making the event even more meaningful for Canberra’s dragon boat community.
The ACT Government invested $2.1 million towards the construction of the purpose-built facility.
A further $360,000 was provided by Dragon Boat ACT, the governing body of dragon boating in the Territory, who now run and maintain the facility.
“Dragon Boat ACT is delighted that the ACT Government has recognised our sport and worked together with us for a permanent home for dragon boating in the ACT,” President of Dragon Boat ACT Donald Jenkins said.
“Dragon Boat ACT has 10 clubs, an ACT state team and many of our paddlers represent Australia internationally. Our members range in age from 12 to 80+ from across the community, including Dragons Abreast, DeafACT, youth, veterans and all forms of diversity. The facility will help with our many activities, including regattas, training, corporate events and come-and-try days,” he said.
Since dragon boating was introduced to the ACT in 1990, it has become one of Canberra's most popular water-based sports.
The sport is recognised for participants’ camaraderie, strength and endurance.
In the ACT, it appeals to a growing number of women and people of all ages.
Read more about this project on Builtforcbr.gov.au
Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:
