By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
STATE Government “stalling” on a $250,000 funding commitment is putting at risk Geelong Head of the Schoolgirls regatta, according to Member for Lara John Eren.
Labor’s shadow minister for sport said the Barwon River needed urgent dredging to keep the regatta until 2017.
Mr Eren said the iconic 25-year-old event was an economic boon for the region, attracting thousands of visitors and injecting over $2 million into the local economy.
City of Greater Geelong and Corangamite Catchment Management Authority had already committed $250,000 to the dredging, he said.
“Mr Napthine must fund the outstanding $250,000 … the City has already warned the Government that course conditions do not currently meet the requirements.
“However, if this does not occur because of a failure of the Napthine Government to support these works the event will be lost to another city.
“The government and Regional and Rural Development Minister Peter Ryan need to stop sitting on their hands and provide the funding as a matter of urgency.”
Mr Eren said the dredging must be complete in time for summer.
Projects, recreation and central Geelong general manager, Dean Frost, said the City had carried out preliminary works already and was awaiting word from State Government on the funding.
The Government had not responded to the Independent’s call for comment when the paper went to press.
