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CENTRAL Victorian Ice Sport Entertainment has renewed the call for a permanent ice rink in Bendigo.
The group said a temporary ice rink operating in the New Pavillion at the Prince of Wales Showgrounds until Australia Day proved the case for a permanent facility.
Bendigo's former ice rink closed in 2010.
Group treasurer Karen Lucas said a permanent ice rink would cater for the Greater Bendigo community.
She said the group had the backing of Melbourne ice rink Icehouse which was used by central Victorians.
"Icehouse are very supportive, they think Victoria needs another rink," she said.
"I’m passionate we could do it. We really need a facility like this and I really believe Bendigo and all surrounding towns would support it... especially given the fact Icehouse is still so busy, and Bendigo people are going there."
Ms Lucas said the group had spoken with several Bendigo sports centres about adding a rink.
"We've done our own feasibility studies, we truly believe it would be viable as long as we were connected to a major centre," she said.
We really need a facility like this and I really believe Bendigo and all surrounding towns would support it
Ms Lucas said City of Greater Bendigo council support as well as federal and state funding would be needed to get the idea off the ground.
"We've got some councillors on board who are supportive of it. We've presented cases to council... we haven’t gone away," she said.
Ms Lucas said she was hopeful there would be progress on a new ice rink in the next five years.
A group of local ice hockey players who spent Monday on the temporary rink also spoke about aspirations to get a permanent home in Bendigo.
Bendigo Blaze Inline Hockey Club president Nancy Davis said as a former CVISE president, she had spent some years advocating for a new rink.
She said her own children, particularly her 13-year-old Emily who now plays for Australia in the under 18s national women's team, had benefited by having access to a permanent rink.
"I personally think it would be fantastic, I can see what it’s done for my own kids in terms of confidence, experience and opportunities," she said.
"I think it would be fantastic for the community in terms of tourism, in terms of well-being, in terms of the sports you can offer on one sheet of ice.
"I think it would be great if council was open to the possibility of talking about it, not necessarily supporting it financially but supporting it in principle."