One of Melton’s biggest events, the Melton Gold Cup, has been postponed.
Plans were awash for the cup which was set to be held on February 14-16, but has been postponed until further notice due to water levels at the Melton Reservoir.
Australia’s fastest Blown Alcohol Displacement (B.A.D.) racing boats compete in a number of races at Melton with about 2500 spectators normally attending each day.
Melbourne Roundabout and Speedboating Club commodore Chris Dynon said they were disappointed having to cancel the event.
“It’s too unsafe to run speedboats,” he said. “For safety reasons, we had to postpone because the water levels are at 35 per cent.
“Anything under 35 per cent is too dangerous to run a race because it becomes too narrow.”
The water levels at Melton Reservoir have dropped below 35 per cent, and with water continuing to be released daily, it is projected that levels will fall below 30 per cent by race weekend.
For now, there are no concrete plans for the rescheduled date of the event other than it is going to go ahead at a later date.
“It all depends on nature now,” Mr Dynon said. “We are hoping to run, hopefully, in May or April, but that’s all depending on rainfall.”
The Melton Gold Cup is the first round of the Nationals Drivers Championship, and so many competitors travel from different places around the country.
Mr Dynon said everyone is disappointed because they all love coming to Melton Reservoir. He said they will hold a barbecue on February 15.
“They’re all hoping, fingers crossed, that we get some rain to reschedule the event,” he said.
“We’re going to have a barbecue… We’re going to put that on for the race teams and spectators that still want to show up.
“A lot of people plan for this trip so we’re going to put on a barbecue, and open the bar, and just make a day out of it.”
