General News
8 March, 2026
School triathlon scuttled by redtape and road sign fees
BUREAUCRACY and soaring fees have forced the cancellation of a major event for North Central school students.
More than 150 teenagers from six schools were to compete in the annual triathlon around Little Lake Boort last Thursday.
But new State Government laws requiring traffic management teams that come with a bill estimated by organisers at more than $6000 saw the 2026 event canned late last week.
North Central District Schools’ sports co-ordinator and Boort teacher Brooke Chamberlain said: “Time will be taken to hopefully devise a new course that doesn’t rely on paying exorbitant fees to use a roadway and line the pockets of someone not in our community.
“It has definitely caused furore amongst students and their families who support this event and see the value for our students and they definitely want to see this event continue.”
Schools in Donald, St Arnaud, Birchip, Charlton, Wedderburn, Wycheproof, Pyramid Hill and Maryborough have been sending students to the Boort triathlon for 12 years.
“I personally know of the training students at Boort have been undertaking as it is of importance to do their best,” she said.
Among disappointed students is Finlay Arnold, selected to represent Victoria at the School Sports Australia National Aquathlon in Queensland this month.
He said the regional school event was to have been a key part of his preparation.
Community anger has seen parents write to members of Parliament about the impact of State Government changes to managing road closures and use.
Murray Plains MP Peter Walsh said cancellation of the triathlon was a travesty.
Mr Walsh claimed the Government was working overtime “to do everything it can to discourage young people from getting involved in healthy outdoor activities is an indictment of its ridiculously overloaded nanny state agenda.
“This isn’t about the wellbeing of the children involved, or even their safety, this is just about more layers of bureaucracy to generate more revenue for the Allan Labor government’s union allies and create ridiculously high-paid jobs doing something any teacher or parent could do, and probably do better, at a moment’s notice.
“If they need someone to stand there and hold a stop/go sign for the hour or so I am happy to go and do it myself – where does this madness end?”
Mrs Chamberlain said: “New legislative changes now requires event organisers to employ a traffic management authority to create a new traffic management plan each year and then pay for them to undertake the identified changes on the traffic management plan when using a Transport Vic roadway.
“In our situation, that would be to erect signage to decrease speed limits on the Boort Durham Ox-Pyramid Road which is a Transport Victoria road for the safety of cyclists exiting the Ring Road onto this roadway,” Mrs Chamberlain said.
“We have never had to pay to use a VicRoads/Transport Victoria roadway.
“This is the major change that is impacting the event. Schools do not have funding to pay the thousands of dollars that has been indicated it will cost to run such an event.”
Mrs Chamberlain said she had previously worked positively with Loddon Shire to ensure the traffic management plan was followed, including erection of signs by the shire staff on the morning of the event.
“The Loddon Shire are now not allowed to conduct any assistance due to legislative changes and their hands are tied,” she said.
“They have openly communicated the issues with me and as a result of time and financial restrictions a decision was made to cancel the event.”
Council’s acting director community wellbeing David Stretch said officers had connected triathlon organisers with the Transport Department and council was now preparing “helpful information for community groups and event organisers, including a list of regional traffic‑management providers, to assist with future event planning”.
Department of Transport and Planning was contacted for comment.