MOUNT Gambier City Council will set aside $12,000 to sponsor a non-competitive cycling event.
Council voted to provide the funds to the 2019 Great Victorian Bike Ride, as well as up to $5000 in-kind assistance for the event.
The full ride spans 10 days as participants travel 652km from Robe to Torquay.
Riders can also choose from two other five-day routes either starting from Robe to Port Fairy, with scheduled stops in Millicent, Mount Gambier or Portland, or Port Fairy to Torquay.
Operational standing committee chair Christian Greco highlighted the national exposure and perceived economic benefit of the event.
The motion was seconded by Cr Steve Perryman, who praised organisers for a successful 2013 event, which saw Mount Gambier incorporated as a starting point for the course.
“It is a great event, there are thousands of riders and people love to watch,” he said.
A council report said the 5000 participants at the 2013 event equated to an $150,000 injection into the community.
