By Dominique Tassell
The Granite Belt Music Council has urged Southern Downs Regional Council to pursue a special entertainment precinct in Stanthorpe, while staff appeared hesitant to do so at the recent Ordinary Council Meeting.
In a letter to SDRC and Member for Southern Downs James Lister, GBMC president Kelvin Johnston spoke of the importance of live music to Stanthorpe.
“We represent the interests of regular and ongoing music and entertainment in the region which is directly beneficial to the retention and growth of tourism,“ he wrote.
“Southern Downs Country Tourism and Tourism and Events Queensland have both indicated that regular events such as we conduct in Weeroona Park are required to cater to the specific needs of visitors to the region,“ Mr Johnston said. “Their data also showed that 95 per cent of the public want the type of free events that we currently provide.“
He said that tourists “want cultural experiences such as music, are family friendly, well educated, quality savvy and they expect entertainment every time they come or they won’t return“.
“Our region may unwittingly lose 60 per cent of its tourism market if we do not provide entertainment on a regular basis.“
Mr Johnston stated that the budget required by GBMC to host their performances is small and that “the $20,000 budget for funding previously given to another organisation for one day event in Weeroona Park could have sustained 11 years of our monthly gigs“.
“We have a goal to provide Special Entertainment Precincts to the Granite Belt,“ Mr Johnston stated.
Reportedly, the Railway Heritage Precinct has requested to be included in any future special entertainment precinct in town.
Mr Johnston said that “if it becomes too difficult to include them because of complications with Queensland railway, we are happy to proceed without including the railway heritage precinct“.
“However, we strongly request and urge that the Southern Downs Regional Council go the extra mile to include to the Railway Heritage Precinct as one of the several locations including Weeroona Park for Special Entertainment Precincts in Stanthorpe.“
In the recent Ordinary Council Meeting, staff stated it may be preferable to use local laws to allow certain areas to be used such as Weeroona Park.
Cr Andrew Gale said this may be better than creating extra work, while Cr Cameron Gow said they should go to community consultation when changing the local laws.
Cr Jo McNally stated there were some local laws they were already working on, including some dating back to Warwick Shire days.
