Bridges in new blow to festival

Jessica Benton
Barwon Heads’ annual festival could be a victim of State Government’s push to build two new bridges for the town despite community opposition, according to event organisers.
Festival of the Sea president David Littleton said plans to start work on the bridges next month could force cancellation of the town’s only arts and environment event.
“The festival could be deferred for a year if it’s still a construction site,” he said.
“Its future is really unknown but we haven’t made our minds up yet – we’re just letting people know.”
Mr Littleton said the next festival would be the tenth.
This year’s event, which ran last weekend, attracted more than 10,000 patrons as “the biggest festival so far”.
Mr Littleton said a lack of volunteers was also threatening next year’s event.
“These two things, the bridge works and a lack of committee members, puts the festival under a bit of a cloud,” he said.
“It’s a huge event and a lot of local groups hang their hat on the festival and it’s a chance to get together and celebrate the artistic and environmental sides of the town, so it would be a huge loss if it was lost.”
Mr Littleton said the festival had previously run out of the town’s main street but the bridge and river estuary were new focal points.
Committee members would “draw a breathe for a few weeks” before weighing up the options for next year, he said.
Vicroads’ Duncan Elliott said work on the bridges was scheduled to begin late next month.
“Construction is proceeding and we’re in the process of evaluating tenders,” he said.