BALLARAT’S reputation as a host of major sporting events will be enhanced with the announcement of an international netball tournament to be held in August.
The 10-day, 21-and-under event will feature five of the top six netball nations with Australia, New Zealand, England, South Africa and Samoa taking part.
According to Ballarat Regional Tourism, the event will pour half a million dollars into the local community, boosting retail and hospitality spending.
“Visitors that will be staying for 10 nights is great for the economy, plus there’s the added value they’ll bring to the town. A lot of teams are running community camps and workshops with schools,” director George Sossi told The Courier last week.
It comes on the back of the National Masters Rowing championships on Lake Wendouree last month. The lake will host the world masters championships in 2014. It also follows the success of the Australian road cycling championships held annually in Ballarat and Buninyong.
The city’s reputation for being able to host these major events continues to grow, as it should.
Attracting these big events can only serve to further push the bonafides of the city which is looking to further capitalise on our facilities and expertise.
As we report today, Ballarat City Council will this week vote on sending a three-member delegation to Canberra later this month to push for federal government project funds for the Major Events and Sports Precinct surrounding Eureka Stadium.
A consortium, which has 22 members, is working toward developing the area around Eureka Stadium into Ballarat’s major sporting zone, including football, cricket, netball, basketball and athletics, plus an indoor exhibition facility and the Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society facilities.
Readers of The Courier will know and understand how vital investment in big-picture infrastructure is to continue to attract major sporting and cultural events to the city.
What we have currently is good but the possibilities are infinite given appropriate government investment.
The attraction, and successful hosting, of major events sends another clear message to decision-makers that the city is up to the challenge. Investing further into a precinct which can build on the good work already done is vital.