BALLARAT'S Head of the Lake continues to be run and won on a river elsewhere, but the time is surely drawing near when competitors will be back on home soil (or water, as the case may be).

It is a huge effort for organisers, schools and supporters to head to Geelong's Barwon River for the regatta, but it is a commitment they have been happy to make in recent years to secure this important event on the sporting calendar.

The lack of water in Lake Wendouree over the past five years has had huge implications for our city.

The City of Ballarat estimates that the empty lake is costing the city about $8 million a year in lost tourism.

Measures have been put in place in the past few years to ensure some flow of water into the lake. Visually, at least, these measures seem to be making little difference.

Over the summer months, in particular, things seem to have gone backwards.

Understandably, when water is so short, there is reluctance to fill the lake with drinking water. Still, the question needs to be asked: How long can we go on losing the valuable tourist dollars that the lake would normally contribute to our community?

This year, with two elections due, maybe we will see a major initiative that will bring the lake back somewhere close to full.

In the meantime, sporting events such as the Head of the Lake will continue to be held elsewhere.

Congratulations to all schools involved yesterday, in particular St Patrick's College and Ballarat and Clarendon College, who won the main events as well as the premierships trophies on the day.

We look forward to a time in the not-too-distant future when all crews will be able to grace Lake Wendouree again.