Media Release –
$1.87million For Alpine Events Centre In Bright –
The Alpine Events Centre, which was allocated $1.87million in Tuesday’s federal budget under the National Stronger Regions Fund, will create about 70 new jobs and $16.5million in direct expenditure in the Alpine Shire and the region, once it is up and running.
Alpine Shire Council CEO, Dave Barry, welcomed the funding, saying council had increased its commitment to events and festivals over the past five years in direct response to tourism industry feedback and had therefore been able to attract and develop new events.
“We’ve developed the Alpine Events Centre concept by working with other partners including the private sector and community groups. Many have committed cash and in-kind support to this facility,” Mr Barry said.
“It’s also satisfying to see that our recent efforts to increase efficiencies have enabled us to present and deliver a project of this scale for the community,” he said.
“This will be a three-year project starting by involving all the interest groups including users of Pioneer Park and tourism bodies in the development of the detailed designs. During the construction phase there will be 35 new jobs created.
“This is a real boost for the region and certainly the Council and I would really like to thank the federal government for the grant,” he said.
The $3.59million Alpine Events Centre will be developed on the 30-hectare site of Pioneer Park in Bright and is expected to attract national and international events. It will deliver a scalable, innovative outdoor events space which can be used for a variety of events including music, special interest clubs, sporting, mountain biking and community events. It includes a major renovation to the Bright football and netball clubrooms, construction of mountain bike tracks and new infrastructure.
“Currently the Shire hosts 80 annual tourism focused events. This new centre will increase overnight visitors to the shire by more than 30% to more than 84,000 annually. This is great news for the region, but especially Alpine Shire and for all the support industries associated with events,” he said.
Mr Barry thanked HVP Plantations, Alpine Community Plantations, the Alpine Cycling Club and the United Bright Football and Netball Club that had all committed financially and/or in-kind to the project.