As we reach the half way mark of the campaign, various events have seen success, including the Victorian Mountain Bike Downhill Series, Australian Football Skools International Championships and Powercor Tour de Depot.
Finishing last Friday after seven days, the Victorian Open Bowls saw players from around Victoria and Australia spend multiple days in the region, with the event receiving record entries of 1,487, a 57 per cent increase in the last two years. The event will return in 2017 for a seventh consecutive year.
Most recently, the Shepparton Multi-Sport Festival and Challenge Shepparton Triathlon were held on the weekend at Victoria Park Lake. Over 4,000 national and international visitors came to compete in the triathlon and multi-sport event, partaking in a variety of events with the main race showcasing all that Shepparton has to offer, including an iconic swim in the Victoria Park Lake, a 90km ride through Shepparton, Mooroopna and Toolamba and a 21.1km run along the shared path network of the Goulburn River.
Greater Shepparton City Council Manager Economic Development Geraldine Christou said feedback from our local businesses during these events has been extremely positive.
“Retail, entertainment, hospitality and service sector businesses are all seeing the benefits of these visitors, competitors and event organisers staying in the region, reporting an increase in trade as visitors inject money into our local economy.
“Accommodation providers have also significantly benefited from the events as they report occupancy rates as through the roof, which ultimately has a flow on effect to our city, creating more jobs and providing a healthy local economy.
“This week Shepparton will host the Victorian BMX State Championships, which we are excited to highlight an appearance from 2016 Rio Olympian Bodi Turner, which will be live streamed for the first time, further showcasing Shepparton on the world stage,” she said.
The BMX State Championships are running in Shepparton for a second consecutive year, with this year’s event growing from a two day event to four days, creating further economic benefits for the region.
The event has seen record entries of over 1,000 participants from around Victoria, with almost 40 per cent of competitors coming from interstate and international, including significant visitation from Queensland, NSW and Western Australia, as well as Tasmania, South Australia, Act, Northern Territory and New Zealand.
Sports tourism continues to enhance Shepparton’s reputation as regional Victoria’s sporting event capital. The 51 days of major sporting events will continue until early December.
