Beach court up in a vollyball trial

Andrew Mathieson
GEELONG’S burgeoning waterfront will inherit custom-made beach volleyball courts under a 12-month trial.
City Hall will take control of the Eastern Beach site following a competitive tournament during the Australia Day long weekend.
The leading players in Victoria showcased the sport at the popular Geelong beach.
The two courts could be retained after Geelong hosts beach volleyball for an Australian Mas-ters Games in February, 2009.
Tournament organiser Vic Beach had forced council to upgrade the sand quality after concerns for public safety prevented several past attempts to bring beach volleyball to the waterfront.
“We approached them a number of years ago and I guess this was put in the too-hard basket,” Vic Beach director Peter Jones told the Independent.
“We initially said the beach you’re looking at playing on isn’t safe for people to play.”
Council workers have since churned up the old sand at the beach.
Mr Jones said the City had also rejected a previous proposal to play games at Barwon Heads.
Councillor John Mitchell said the City would consider removing the nets at night to stop vandalism.