Barwon River water sports
Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:20): (213) My question is for the Minister for Regional Development. It is an understatement to say that the athletes, sports clubs and communities of Geelong, like the rest of regional Victoria, are deeply disappointed that their Commonwealth Games legacy will be one of disappointment, failure and broken promises. Does the minister have the opportunity to secure a lasting sporting legacy for the huge number of dedicated watersport competitors who use the Barwon River, and does the minister value these sporting clubs, such as rowing, canoeing and waterskiing, and the physical benefits participation brings?
Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Water, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Equality) (12:21): Thank you, Mrs McArthur, for that question. Again, in line with the discussions that we have had this week, I am really happy to continue to provide information and advice on the work that we do to deliver legacy benefits across regional Victoria, including as they translate through the delivery of $550 million in permanent sports infrastructure, to make sure that communities have the outcomes that they need and that they have identified to us.
There are a range of water sports that have been identified, as you would be aware and as communities are really aware, that are the focus of what outcomes need to be delivered, deserve to be delivered, as part of legacy. I have been engaged over many, many months now and will continue to be engaged with communities on the sorts of outcomes that they wish to see for the purpose of legacy within community and sporting clubs and organisations, with peak bodies, with communities and councils and with our regional partnerships, and this is work that is really important to make sure that what we deliver through this $2 billion is fit for purpose and meets the needs of communities now and into the future.
There has been, Mrs McArthur, as you would be aware, an announcement, as part of this fund of more than $2 billion, of $60 million toward community sport and development, and this is on top of the $550 million permanent sport infrastructure commitment that we have made and that we are in the process of delivering. I would very much urge you and indeed anybody else around this chamber who has organisations, clubs, peak bodies or groups – everyone from our nippers right through to our masters – to get in touch to be part of the legacy round tables, which are continuing and which have always been locked in, to talk about the enduring benefits of the preparation for 2026 and where we head to from here. Last week I was in fact at the Committee for Ballarat. More than 200 people attended, and this is about an opportunity to continue that conversation.
As is the case with every other code, I am looking forward to hearing from a range of stakeholders, including watersport clubs and community participants. There is a lot of enthusiasm for a range of on-water activities, and I am looking forward to seeing what we can do. I suspect I know where your supplementary question might be going, Mrs McArthur, as it relates to waterskiing and as it relates to a range of things around multi-use capacity for the Barwon River, but I will not pre-empt that work and I will let you ask your supplementary.
Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:24): Thank you, Minister, for that fulsome response. I am sure they will all be pleased to hear that you have got their backs. These particular clubs are perhaps not interested in receiving money, although I am sure they would welcome it if you want to come forward with it, but these clubs have dedicated amateur, semiprofessional and professional participants. Geelong Waterski Club members – and you were right, that is where I was going – for example, win national and international honours. This is where you need to take some action, Minister, because the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority took more than 11 months to reply to the Geelong Canoe Club about proposed new boating rules, and even then they would not agree to meet with them. The sporting reputation of Victoria has been trashed by the Andrews government, so will you please, Minister, at least step in to save the Barwon River’s national reputation for water sports and order the CCMA to respond to the river users’ concern that their activities could soon be outlawed?
Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Water, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Equality) (12:25): Mrs McArthur, it appears that we have both pre-empted where we were going on this particular conversation. Corangamite CMA has been continuing to engage with the community, including the waterski club, to make sure that options and consultations as they are occurring around the span of hours balance the interests of various user groups in and around the Barwon. We do want to make sure that clubs are able to do their work and are able to participate in a range of training and competitive activities. We also want to make sure that other on-water vehicles are able to move throughout the Barwon River without presenting that safety risk that may be attendant where we do not have an adequate balancing of priorities. So there is a review being undertaken at the moment, and what we are intending to do is make sure that we do continue to talk with communities. And when we have a final decision on where we are landing with this, including a span of hours for use of the Barwon River, we will be able to work through that with clubs and community groups, including the waterski club.