Last week, Deputy Director-General for Tourism, Bridget Woods and GM for Investment, Infrastructure & Grants, Toni Brownie (DETSI) met with Capricorn Enterprise Corporate, Platinum and Gold Tourism Partners at Riviera Yeppoon to discuss a range of significant issues requiring State government attention, assistance, support and investment. From leases to legislation, farm cellar doors to distilleries, labour hire to sports tourism, Olympics to local buy, a very robust discussion flowed with our industry including Livingstone Shire Council, Great Keppel Island Hideaway, Freedom Fast Cats, Stay Yeppoon (Salt, Echelon, Beaches on Lammermoor, Rosslyn Bay Resort), Capricorn Caves, Empire/Edge Apartment Hotels, Frenchville Sports Club, Salty Lime Co., Jabiru Events Centre, Koorana Crocodile Farm, Pumpkin Island, Funtastic Cruises and High Valley Dawn Permaculture Farm. Topics included Great Keppel Island, Rosslyn Bay Harbour Master Plan, Hotel/Resort accommodation shortage, Agritourism and Ecotourism, Crocodile Management Plan, Local and State Planning legislation.
CEO Mary Carroll hosted our DETSI guests on a very special visit to Mount Morgan Fireclay Caverns (viewing from the outside), which have been closed since October 2011. Sincere thanks to the Department of Mines (DRMMRRD) and Heritage Minerals for allowing access as well as a special tour and discussion of the mine buildings and future tourism opportunities. A Mount Morgan town tour including the lookouts, dam, main street and incredible heritage railway building and Accredited Visitor Information Centre, operated by MMPAD was very much appreciated by our guests. A drive along Rockhampton’s Quay street and Victoria Parade was followed by a meeting with Dreamtime Cultural Centre (temporarily closed) to discuss future opportunities, then a hosted tasting tour of Reef Distillers, which was the recipient of Round 1 Regional Tourism Infrastructure Funding. Visits to the Causeway Lake, Emu Park ANZAC Memorial Walk & Singing Ship, High Valley Dawn Permaculture Farm and Salty Lime Co, followed by a quick visit to Byfield Rainforest for the Bowenia rainforest walk at Waterpark Creek, ended a busy and insightful tour of our diverse region, brimming with future tourism potential.
