Thursday, 31 October 2019

 Mr WALSH (Murray Plains) (09:41): Today I speak on behalf of the Moama Water Sports Club, who run the Southern 80 ski race on the Murray River, racing between Torrumbarry and Echuca. This race started in 1965 and has grown to be a major tourist attraction for the Echuca-Moama area. It is held on the second weekend in February each year and has around 900 competitors from juniors through to the senior age groups. Over 260 boats are involved in this particular race, with all the support crew that are there as well.

Thousands of spectators come to Echuca-Moama for the weekend to set up along both sides of the Murray River at whatever vantage points are there to make sure they can see the boats and the skiers go past. This year it was estimated that the race and the visitation to the area actually generated over $13 million worth of economic benefit to Echuca-Moama. The New South Wales government assist with sponsorship and the cost of staging the Southern 80 through their Destination NSW program. But the Andrews Labor government will not assist with staging this event, and it is a key part of the calendar for regional Victoria. The Moama Water Sports Club feel let down by the rejection they receive each year from the Andrews government to their approaches for assistance.

I urge the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events to come on board, to actually come to the Southern 80 in Echuca and see what this race does in attracting visitation to the area. It is a major part of the events calendar in regional Victoria and deserves support.