In August 1997, Olympics Minister Michael Knight announced that Canoe Slalom would be restored to the Olympics in 2000. A proposal was accepted from Penrith Council, Australian Canoeing and the International Canoe Federation to contribute to the development of a whitewater canoe facility for the 2000 games. The course, the only one in Australia, was developed at a cost of $6.5 million of which $1.5 million was contributed by Penrith City Council. The whitewater facility provides whitewater rafting and training facilities to canoeists.
