Peninsula fears over games loss

Jessica Benton
BELLARINE Peninsula community groups have demanded their councillors fight off a Surf Coast bid to host Australian Masters Games events.
The groups fear their communities will lose “a great economic windfall” if the Surf Coast wins events ideal for running on the peninsula
Around 7000 national competitors will flock to the region in February after Geelong won hosting rights last year for the 12th annual games. City of Greater Geelong, which has contributed $200,000 to the games, expects a financial return for the region of up to $13 million.
Surf Coast Shire Mayor Dean Webster told the shire’s tourism association members in a newsletter that representatives were in talks with organisers about hosting surfing, cycling, golf and surf life saving. The shire had contributed $10,000 to the games, he said.
Ocean Grove and District Community Association chairperson Michael Harbour said the peninsula’s councillors must fight to protect its hosting rights.
“This could be a great economic windfall for the Bellarine Peninsula,” he said.
“Our view is that the games have been given to City of Greater Geelong, so the events should be held within its boundaries.
“We’d like to see the Bellarine Peninsula reap the economic benefits.”
Barwon Heads Traders and Tourism Association’s Bernard Napthine said the games should be distributed around the City, which included most of the peninsula.
“It’s not called greater Geelong for nothing,” he said.
“The games would give great exposure to the area and I’d like to see the whole region gain from it.”
Mr Napthine called on councillors to be “pro-active” to ensure events did not escape the Bellarine Peninsula.
However, Barwon Heads ward councillor Peter McMullin said acquiring the games had been a “collaborative effort” between members of regional councils alliance organisation G21, so events should be shared.
“I’d like to see the Bellarine Peninsula host some events but I don’t think there’s any reason other areas should miss out,” he said.
“Bells Beach and those sorts of areas are well-known for surfing, so it would be a bit odd if an event wasn’t held there. But, equally, it could also be held in Barwon Heads.
Cr Tom O’Connor wanted as many events for the peninsula as possible.
“We’ve got the premier clubs and beaches, so you’d have to have it here,” he said.
“I can’t see why you’d want to send people all the way down the coast when they can come straight to the peninsula.”
The peninsula’s other councillor, Jan Farrell, had not returned the Independent’s calls for comment on Wednesday before the paper went to press yesterday.