Rally cash splash

By DION TEASDALE
A CAR rally held in the Yarra Valley involving 160 competitors and a 15,000strong crowd will receive a $10,000 funding boost, the Minister for Tourism John Pandazopoulos announced last week.
Mr Pandazopoulos said the Rally of Melbourne would be held in the Yarra Valley from 2 to 4 September and would take in the neighbouring towns of Marysville, Healesville, Toolangi and Narbethong.
He said the funding would be used on a range of promotional, advertising and public relations activities to boost participation in this year’s event.
“The Rally of Melbourne is an excellent event which delivers a number of benefits to the Yarra Valley region,” Mr Pandazopoulos said.
“In particular, the event is great for tourism, helping to fill hotel rooms and generating increased business at restaurants, cafes and retail precincts.
“The event is a great way of exposing the beauty of the Yarra Valley and its lesserknown towns.
“And, best of all, the rally has widespread appeal and will capture the interest of carlovers, families, visitors and locals.”
Mr Pandazopoulos said the event, the sixth round of the Globalstar Australian Rally Championships, was expected to attract about 160 competitors, 800 service crew members and 800 officials.
“We’re estimating that around 40 per cent of competitors and 25 per cent of crew and officials will be from interstate, bringing new money visitor expenditure into the region,” Mr Pandazopoulos said.
“And, based on last year’s attendances, we’re expecting around 15,000 spectators at the rally.
“The rally is an excellent example of how events can provide an effective platform from which to stimulate tourism and promote a destination.”
Mr Pandazopoulos said the region would also benefit from a onehour rally highlights special to be broadcast on Channel Ten.