Let’s just dream a little that whilst the Premier was in Rockhampton she had a one on one meeting with the Mayor and during the conversation Premier Palaszczuk asks Mayor Strelow if she was to give the Rockhampton Region $6 million no strings attached what you would spend it on.
What might be the response, especially if capturing votes wasn’t the objective; reinvigorating the economy was (like I said a dream)?
You might be sick to death of me saying Rockhampton needs more people spending more money here to reinvigorate the economy. $6 million isn’t going to go far in trying to attract people to move here and live. However it could get more people to visit. Not if just used in an advertising campaign though.
We have heard some great adjectives in describing future infrastructure projects, like Kershaw Gardens and now Mount Morgan’s streetscape. However these projects could be described as tourist stoppers or enhancers; the region needs tourist magnets. Tourist magnets that make Rockhampton region a destination not just a place that gets people out of their car while driving elsewhere.
Two assets that could be developed into tourist magnets are the Dreamtime Cultural Centre and CQLX (formerly Gracemere Saleyards).
One is a tourist attraction, though showing its near 30 years age. The other is not tourist orientated but does attract tourists without trying.
Could Dreamtime Cultural Centre become the best Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural complex in Australia and thus the world?
CQLX annually holds the world biggest multi-vendor breed sale. It arguably is Rockhampton’s most engaging example of Beef Capital of Australia status.
Would $6 million spent between these 2 properties to make them true international class tourist attractions, especially targeting those who want to experience the ‘real’ Australia, make Rockhampton more of a must visit destination, particularly if packaged as the start or end of a western Queensland road/rail adventure. A winner with international tourists!
More people spending more money in Rockhampton region.
Well it could be an election year so possibly conversations similar to this dreamt one may have occurred. Though short term vote grabbing ideas possibly monopolised the discussion if it had.