Ross Earl, General Manager of Bourke Shire Council, writes on Far West issues.
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Representatives from seven Far West areas involved in the Kamilaroi Highway marketing group met in Lightning Ridge last week to prepare a destination management plan.
Running from Willow Tree south of Tamworth straight out to Bourke, the Kamilaroi's towns and settlements create an excuse to extend the journey, with each stop presenting its own unique slice of life in the bush.
The meeting, attended by representatives from Visitor Information Centres in Quirindi, Gunnedah, Narrabri, Walgett, Lightning Ridge, Brewarrina and Bourke drafted a framework for a revised 2017- 2022 plan.
The plan is a prerequisite to access funding from Destination NSW and set out what the group wants to achieve and identified target markets and how the group planned to develop them. As markets change it’s important to evaluate existing products, activities and experiences that the highway corridor offers and how they can be improved.
The key things State and Federal government agencies (including Destination NSW) are looking for are:-
- Catalytic Projects – these are projects which have the potential to take tourism to the next level and also have ramifications for other industry sectors.
- Game Changers - projects that significantly increase or open up new markets. Infrastructure projects – for example: the establishment of a camping area or installation of a boat ramp.
One of the key objectives of the destination management plan was to determine whether there are projects along the highway corridor that align with council priorities.
Road bid. The council has lodged an application for funding under Round 3 of Fixing Country Roads in respect of three sections of the Bourke to Wanaaring Road which have been identified as a significant impediment to the flow of all types of freight to and from the North West with the freight being carried critical to the economy of that area.
The road is an extremely important freight corridor and this is expected to grow with the transport of stock to the abattoir currently under construction north of Bourke.