MORE than $1 million is set to be pumped into the local economy when hundreds of competitors and spectators converge on Narromine for the 2015 FAI Junior World Gliding Championships.
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Set to take over the Narromine Aerodrome from December 1 until December 12, it will be the first time the event has been held in the southern hemisphere.
With the economy set to receive an estimated $1.15 million boost from visitor expenditure, Narromine Shire mayor Bill McAnally said it was a real coup for the region.
“There’ll be at least five or six hundred people in town which will not only help our economy, but also show people from about 17 other countries what we have got to offer here in Narromine Shire,” Cr McAnally said.
“That’s without all of the other people from around the regions as well. It’s over 12 days, it will attract people [interested in gliding] from all over Australia too.”
Junior gliders aged 26 and under will travel from across the world, with Australia’s Matthew Scutter (South Australia) set to top the rankings in the standard class.
The competition involves various time trials over set courses with pilots tracked via GPS.
The NSW government has committed funding to the event through Destination NSW, and threw its support behind the event at a launch, complete with full-size glider, in Sydney’s Martin Place last Friday.
“It just highlights how important this event is to our region, especially Narromine,” Cr McAnally said.
“It also does help that Destination NSW are also backing events in smaller regional areas which is great, so we get to show off our lovely area.”
NSW tourism and major events minister Stuart Ayres said it was the first time the event would be held outside Europe.
“Narromine is one of Australia’s premier locations for air sports, and the Junior World Gliding Championships will attract the world’s best glider pilots under the age of 26 to compete for the World Championship title,” Mr Ayres said.
“The event will provide a major boost to the local visitor economy, with more than 500 international and domestic visitors expected to attend, contributing an estimated $1.15 million in visitor spend.”
