MORE than 800 visitors are estimated to be in Sunraysia this weekend for the start of the Mildura Netball Association’s annual spring carnival.
The two-day tournament, making its return after two COVID-interrupted years, will see netballers from across south-eastern Australia compete to win their divisions.
Around 500 players and 46 teams will be competing this weekend, with majority from Melbourne, Adelaide and Broken Hill.
MNA president Alana Mills said there would be a strong economic impact for the local economy.
“The timing of our carnival is to do with our school holidays, we always have it on the first Saturday and Sunday of the Victorian school holidays and that is the appeal for lots of Melbourne teams,” she said.
“They will come up and stay on after the tournament, lots of families we know in the past have hired houseboats. It is definitely a big boost to Sunraysia for not just the weekend but after the tournament.”
Mills said the tournament had been running in Mildura for many years, but this year would be the first time it would be held at the Mildura Sporting Precinct.
“I think that while a lot of the teams from Melbourne have really enjoyed the outside feel that Mansell (Reserve) had, once they see the precinct they will really enjoy the comfort of being indoors,” she said.
“There’s no need to stop if it gets too hot or too cold and obviously the amenities out there are amazing so it really will be great to hold it indoors this year.”
Mills said quite a few local teams had entered into the competition, which had age divisions and open divisions.
“It is great that both the SFNL and Millewa leagues have finished up, because we have seen quite a few local teams that will enter especially in the open,” she said.
“There are quite a few open teams that have been put together.”
Games start at 8.30am on Saturday and Sunday, with games concluding at 4.30pm on Saturday.
Sunday’s finals start at 2.30pm and conclude at 3.30pm.
