October 21, 2013
The South Burnett and Cherbourg October long weekend promotion will make its third outing next year, organisers decided today.
At a “post mortem” meeting run by the organising committee in Murgon, committee members heard that feedback from individual events which participated in the October promotion was largely positive.
Most said they would be happy to participate in a similar promotion next year.
The committee was also told the organisers of some events which had been held on dates near this year’s long weekend had suggested they might move their dates forwards or backwards slightly next year to become part of it.
There were a number of items identified that needed improvement but these were all considered “do-able”.
Suggested improvements for 2014 included:
- A longer lead time for marketing the weekend
- Better co-ordination between individual events to ensure cross-promotion between them
- An upgrade to corflute and road sign designs
- More involvement by regional tourism and wine industry organisations
- The introduction of paid event sponsorships
- Redesigning the event’s master calendar to list events in order of date and time, rather than geographically, to make it easier for tourists to plan what to visit and when
The committee heard an estimated 10 per cent of the South Burnett’s population had left the area during the Spring school vacation, which included the long weekend.
But this loss was counterbalanced with big attendances by tourists at the Bjelke-Petersen Dam, Lake Boondooma and Manar Park, who all hosted close to 1000 visitors over the course of the three days.
Cherbourg’s Yurri Muntha Cafe and Ration Shed Museum reported they were “very happy” with visitor numbers.
Yurri Muntha’s “Duck a l’Orange” drew special mention from committee chairman Cr Kathy Duff, who said she’d found it “extraordinarily good”.
Next year the Ration Shed will be celebrating its 10th birthday and it was likely both the Indigenous music concert and lakeside cook-off would be transferred there to be part of a gala celebration.
Accommodation numbers in the region varied, with some places like the Bunya Mountains reporting capacity bookings, while some other places reported vacancy rates of up to 50 per cent.
The weekend appeared to have given the region a much-needed economic stimulus and helped prevent a “mini-slump” that might have otherwise occurred.
The committee will hold its next meeting on November 11 to begin planning the 2014 event.
