EVENTS delivered under the City of Bunbury’s new funding round have boosted tourism and delivered significant economic benefit to the region.
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In a briefing to the Bunbury council on February 24, Bunbury Events Coordination Group Chair Monique Warnock said two new events had attracted a large number of visitors, resulting in money being spent in the region and accommodation being booked out.
The 4WD Boating and Camping Expo received $5,000 in funding and attracted more than 8000 people, with 41 per cent from outside Greater Bunbury and $2.85 million spent with exhibitors.
“The organisers spent $90,000 with local contractors and suppliers and visitors stayed an average of 2.5 days, spending $453 each,” Ms Warnock said.
“The BECG worked with the event organiser to secure the event and the best venue at Payne Park and then linked them to local community groups which took advantage of fund raising opportunities such as parking, first aid and running food outlets.”
The Australian Sprint Car Championships was a major coup for the city, receiving $20,000 in funding and attracting 12,000 people from across the country.
The council’s new events funding round allocated more than $274,000 to smaller community, major and iconic events.
Ms Warnock said the group also secured the Groovin the Moo festival for the next five years.
Future events included a house and garden show on the Leschenault Inlet foreshore in October as well as a proposal for Action Sports Games to move to Koombana Bay from its home in Mandurah.
“The games attract the world's best competitors in waterskiing, wakeboarding, skateboarding, scooter and BMX riding and global media attention which would result in significant destination marketing-type benefits for Bunbury,” Ms Warnock said.
The proposal for the three-year events deal is outside the BECG's annual event funding remit and would be considered by the council in the next round of meetings.
Priorities in 2015 include helping to develop an events calendar, working towards an events venue guide, combining the Carols by Candlelight and Christmas Carnival events, inviting the organisers of Floriade and Vivid to Bunbury and running the next events funding round.