City seeks feedback from users of Greater Bendigo's major sporting venues

The City of Greater Bendigo is asking regular visitors to Greater Bendigo’s 10 major sporting venues to complete a survey about the food and drinks options available as part of the Water in Sport project.

City of Greater Bendigo Active and Healthy Lifestyles Manager Lincoln Fitzgerald said the Water in Sport project is an initiative of VicHealth and local government to improve access to water and healthy drink options in kiosks and cafes at Victorian leisure centres and sports venues.

“The initiative was introduced over 12 months ago at the Peter Krenz Leisure Centre, Gurri Wanyarra Wellbeing Centre, Bendigo Tennis Centre, Bendigo Stadium, Bendigo Athletics Centre, Bendigo East Swimming Pool, Faith Leech Aquatic Centre, Brennan Park Swimming Pool, Marong Swimming Pool, and Heathcote Swimming Pool,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

“This will be the second survey undertaken on the project that has been developed by Deakin University.  The first asked people who attend our major venues for their feedback about the types of food and drinks available at the venues.

 “A total of 139 responses were received from individuals over the age of 15 from throughout Greater Bendigo and the findings were quite interesting.” 

75 per cent of respondents agreed with the statement “Sports and recreation centres have a responsibility to promote healthy eating”.

72 per cent of respondents believed that the community needs to implement changes to reduce sugary drink consumption

54 per cent of respondents agreed with the statement: ‘Removing sugary drinks from sports and recreation facilities will lead to reduced consumption in the community”

50 per cent of respondents identified that sports and recreation facilities should help reduce the consumption of sugary drinks by either removing all sugary drinks from customer view or limiting the amount of sugary drinks available for sale.

“The City listened to the feedback received and has been working closely with facility management and staff over the last 12 months to implement the Water in Sport project.

“Deakin University are now conducting a follow up survey to get further feedback about providing healthy food and drink changes in the same venues and I would like to encourage users of our local facilities to take a couple of minutes to complete the survey.”

The survey can be completed online at   https://bit.ly/waterinsport   until Friday August 16, 2019.

For more information on the Water in Sport project please contact Crystie Ballard on

5434 6000 or via [email protected]