A SUGGESTED relocation of the 140-year-old City of Warrnambool Rowing Club to Deakin University is likely to be a tough course, judging by initial reaction.
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City councillor Brian Kelson floated the idea this week, saying if the club was moved upstream from its base in the Hopkins River estuary it would ease controversy over water regulations and open opportunities to build a top-class competition venue.
However, the club’s president Brendan Finnigan doubted if the suggestion would even get off the starting line.
“There’s no substance to it,” he told The Standard.
“We haven’t discussed it and would require a special meeting or annual general meeting to make approaches for moving the clubhouse to another location.
“We lease our premises on Crown land and the current course is in a built-up area with houses around for safety and security.
“Our base is where it is because there’s good sheltered water. Up around Deakin the south-easterlies hit and the water gets rougher.
“Just suggesting to shifting the club will not solve the rules issue.”
Deakin’s head of campus at Warrnambool Professor Gerry Quinn also said prevailing easterlies could make the upstream stretch of river too rough for regular competition.
“Until we get a formal approach we are not in a position to take the suggestion anywhere,” Professor Quinn said.
“If there was an approach we’d put it through the normal process and consider it.
“There would need to be approval to use land at the Sherwood Park campus and it would have to fit into our long-term strategies.”
pcollins@fairfaxmedia.com.au