Events funding boost delivers for regional Queensland

Regional events across the State have received a $1.4 million boost under the latest round of the Events Queensland Regional Development Program (EQRDP).

Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games, Jann Stuckey said the latest funding round would support 58 Queensland events - from cultural celebrations to triathlons, music festivals, water sports, and food and wine festivals.

“The Newman Government recognises the important role events play in attracting visitors to regional areas, which in turn provides social and economic benefits for local communities,” Ms Stuckey said today.

“We’re pleased to support a range of important events in regional Queensland as part of our goal to double the annual overnight visitor expenditure to $30 billion by 2020.”

Events Queensland has created the most comprehensive portfolio of supported events of any state in Australia with more than $21 million invested through the EQRDP across 976 events since 2001.

Events Queensland interim CEO, Kirsten Herring, said strong regional support was crucial to the ongoing success of the EQRDP.

“These events are delivered in partnership with local communities and that collaborative effort is vital to their success,” Ms Herring said.

“This program, with the support of bodies including Regional Tourism Organisations, helps deliver tourism benefits and promote regional destinations to a wider audience.”

The next EQRDP funding round closes 15 February 2013 for events held between 1 October 2013 and 31 March 2015.

EQRDP application forms and guidelines are available at:  www.eventsqld.com.au

[ENDS] 19 November 2012

Media Contact: Minister’s Office – 3224 2002

Events supported under Round 23 of the EQRDP

·         Australian Country Cricket Championships, Bundaberg – Held 3-14 January 2013

·         Hell of the West Triathlon, Goondiwindi – Held 3 February 2013

·         Fraser Coast Cultural Festival, Hervey Bay – Held 7-24 March 2013

·         Noosa Festival of Surfing, Noosa – Held 10-16 March 2013

·         Magnetic Island Adventurethon, Magnetic Island – Held 23-24 March 2013

·         Burrum Heads Easter Fishing Classic, Burrum Heads – Held 29-31 March 2013

·         Easter @ Woodgate, Woodgate – Held 29 March to 1 April 2013

·         Easter Vintage Festival, Highfields – Held 30 March to 1 April 2013

·         Immerse Paddle Festival, Currumbin – Held 30 March to 1 April 2013

·         Feast of the Senses, Cassowary Coast Shire – Held 12-21 April 2013

·         Noosa Ultimate Sports Fest, Noosa Heads – Held 27-28 April 2013

·         Garterbelts & Gasoline Nostalgia Festival, Tamborine Mountain – Held 3-5 May 2013

·         Portside Food and Wine Festival, Maryborough – Held 4 May 2013

·         Golden Mount Festival, Mount Morgan – Held 4-6 May 2013

·         Maleny Wood Expo from Chainsaw to Fine Furniture, Maleny – Held 4-5 May 2013

·         Tour of Toowoomba, Toowoomba – Held 9-12 May 2013

·         Emu Gully Air & Land Spectacular, Helidon – Held 18-19 May 2013

·         Outrigger Canoe National Marathon Titles, Mooloolaba – Held 18-19 May 2013

·         Captain Cook 1770 Festival and Art Show, 1770 – Held 20-26 May 2013

·         Blackall Heartland Festival, Blackall – Held 24 May to 2 June 2013

·         Tour of the Tropics Festival of Cycling, Cairns – Held 25-26 May 2013

·         Cooly Rocks On, Coolangatta – Held 31 May to 10 June 2013

·         Classic Country Music Stampede, Maryborough – Held 3-10 June 2013

·         The Noosa Long Weekend, Noosa – Held 14-23 June 2013

·         Cairns to Karumba Bike Ride, Cairns – Held 22-29 June 2013

·         Mackay Marine Festival and Tinnie & Tackle Show, Mackay – Held 22-23 June 2013

·         Cairns Ukulele Festival, Cairns – Held 4-7 July 2013

·         Paluma Push, Paluma – Held 20-21 July 2013

·         Tara Festival of Culture and Camel Races, Tara – Held 30 July to 4 August 2013

·         Curry Merry Muster Festival, Cloncurry – Held 3-5 August 2013

·         Townsville Running Festival, Townsville – Held 3-4 August 2013

·         Gemfest Festival of Gems, Sapphire – Held 8-11 August 2013

·         Airlie Beach Race Week, Airlie Beach – Held 9-15 August 2013

·         Logan’s Run MTB Marathon, Wyaralong – Held 10-11 August 2013

·         Adventure Race, Noosa – Held 10-11 August 2013

·         Big Talk One Fire Indigenous Festival, Cairns – Held 16 August 2013

·         Village Festival of Arts and Music, Yeppoon – Held 16-18 August 2013

·         Leyburn Sprints, Leyburn – Held 17-18 August 2013

·         Central Highlands Multicultural Festival, Emerald – Held 24 August 2013

·         Mooloolaba Ocean Festival, Mooloolaba – Held 24 August 2013

·         Magnetic Island Race Week, Magnetic Island – Held 29 August to 3 September 2013

·         Dalby’s Delicious and DeLIGHTful Festival, Dalby – Held 31 August 2013

·         Bloomin Beautiful Blackbutt Festival, Blackbutt – Held 31 August to 8 September 2013

·         Jackie Howe Festival of the Golden Shears, Jondaryan – Held 6-8 September 2013

·         Tour de Valley, Currumbin Waters – Held 7 September 2013

·         Nanango Country Muster, Nanango – Held 12-15 September 2013

·         Straddie Salute Multisport Festival, North Stradbroke Island – Held 13-15 September 2013

·         Swell Sculpture Festival, Currumbin – Held 13-22 September 2013

·         Townsville Triathlon Festival, Townsville – Held 21-22 September 2013

·         Texas Country Music Festival, Texas – Held 23-29 September 2013

·         Outback Festival, Winton – Held 24-28 September 2013

·         Ancient Arts Revival, Darlington – Held 26-29 September 2013

·         Kenilworth Celebrates, Kenilworth – Held 27 September to 25 October 2013

·         Cardiac Challenge, Cairns to Cooktown – Held 28-30 September 2013

·         CRUSH Regional Arts Festival, Bundaberg – Held 1-31 October 2013

·         Greek Festival, Townsville – Held 12-13 October 2013

·         North Queensland Games, Townsville – Held 4-6 April 2014