By Jeremy Sollars
SUNFLOWERS, local produce and events, RV travellers and interpretative signage were just a few of the topics on the table at a conference held at Killarney over the weekend.
The Killarney Area Promotions Association’s two-day ‘Inspiration for Small Towns – Economic Development’ event attracted some big-hitters from the eco-tourism sector and others, who shared their knowledge and views with locals.
The weekend was all about brainstorming ideas to boost the economy of small towns like Killarney and inject some enthusiasm into the process.
Among the speakers on Saturday was Tony Charters AM, a tourism and conservation consultant with decades of experience in that sector, who also happens to own property in the Killarney region.
Mr Charters nominated a few “quick wins” he believed Killarney could achieve in the tourism department, not the least of which was marketing the district as ‘RV Friendly’, along with a permanent vista of sunflowers on the approaches to town and showcasing local produce.
“We know that RV travellers spend money when they stay in a place, they buy fuel and food and visit attractions,” he told the conference.
“The region also has amazing local produce – maybe the local butcher could open on weekends so passing travellers could pick up some of that fantastic local beef and lamb.
“I also think interpretative signage directing travellers to the lookouts and falls and the Condamine Gorge, even the Rabbit Fence which has a lot of heritage, would work.
“And the vistas of sunflowers you see coming into the area – this could be used to create the ‘postcard’ shot that symbolises the region.
“It’s finding that iconic features of an area – both physical and cultural.”
Mr Charters pointed to past damage done by careless out-of-town four wheel drive owners in the breath-taking Condamine Gorge, asking if that was “the sort of market Killarney really wants to attract”.
He said small communities such as Killarney with emerging eco-tourism sectors needed to be clear about their point of difference and that visitors were chasing an “authentic” experience, as opposed to “contrived” destinations such as Dubai, and that eco-tourism was growing at twice the rate of mainstream tourism.
He also made the point that the majority of eco-tourists tended to come from overseas, with Australians still favouring cheap holidays in Bali and Fiji and the growing trend towards cruises.
Other weekend speakers included Keith Murray, owner of the acclaimed Glasshouse Mountains Ecolodge and Ian Henderson, CEO of Stanthorpe-based Australian Vinegar, both of whom spoke of the trials and tribulations of establishing successful and growing businesses in regional locations, including council red tape.
Mr Henderson told the conference there was huge potential for established businesses to relocate from metro areas to places like Warwick and Stanthorpe given the “inconceivably expensive” industrial land in our big cities.
Mr Murray pointed to the huge popularity of walking routes with travellers in Europe and suggested there was scope for this activity on the Southern Downs and Granite Belt.
The conference MC for the weekend was newly-appointed Southern Downs Regional Council economic development and tourism manager Scott Templeman and guests enjoyed dinner on Saturday night at Bev Ruskey’s Spring Creek Mountain Cafe.
Expect presentations and film coverage of the event soon at www.killarney.org.au
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SIDEBAR
Pleased with turnout
KAPA president Paul Stumkat was pleased with the turnout for the group’s weekend event.
Mr Stumkat noted the presence of Mayor Tracy Dobie and Warwick-based councillors Yve Stocks, Sheryl Windle and Rod Kelly at the conference, but said he was disappointed no Stanthorpe-based councillors were in attendance.
He said KAPA submitted a proposal to council to improve signage in the region, as many travellers coming into the Killarney area from the eastern side of the range through The Head had been bypassing the town via Condamine River Road and Brosnans Road.
“The project has only been partially completed with an existing issue of tourists accidently travelling up Anemone street and bypassing the Killarney CBD, and going through the Killarney to Legume gorge entrance of Brosnans road,” Mr Stumkat said.
“We are hoping council will liaise with KAPA to get the project outcome correct
and there is more work to do to beneficially direct visitors new to the area.”
Mr Stumkat said KAPA was supportive of making Killarney ‘RV friendly’ although more signage and facilities such as a sewage and other waste disposal points would be required.
He said damage from four wheel drive vehicles in the Condamine Gorge had “settled down” somewhat, thanks to the efforts of the volunteer management group who had erected signage and installed a donation box for visitors.
The Gorge and its 14 river crossings are popular with visiting four wheel drive enthusiasts, particularly after a downpour, with unthinking idiots having caused significant damage in the past.
“Go slow is always an issue – we recognise that the Gorge is an asset that we need to protect,” he told the Free Times.
“You can have 200 vehicles through there on a wet weekend and that then presents problems for locals getting to work and kids to school the week after.
“We’ll be working with the council on the ongoing maintenance strategy up there.”
