Joint media release

  • Hon. David Littleproud MP, Minister For Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management
  • Senator the Hon. Jonno Duniam, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries, Assistant Minister for Regional Tourism
18 September 2020

Music festivals, art installations, sporting events and a coastal headland walking trail are among 95 projects to receive a share in more than $7 million in funding support for communities in fire-affected regions across Australia.

This is the third funding announcement under the $10 million Regional Tourism Bushfire Recovery Grants program, following $825,000 for 34 events and projects announced since June to encourage visitors back into fire-affected communities.

Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, David Littleproud said that these vital grants will have positive impacts for bushfire-affected communities.

“We committed to stick with bushfire affected communities for their long recovery journey and these grants are one very important support mechanism to get tourists back to affected areas – boosting local economies,” Minister Littleproud said.

“Importantly, the government recognised that COVID-19 would have an impact on tourists returning to some areas – so the timeline for successful applicants to use their funding has been extended.

“I would urge every Australian to consider taking a regional holiday in a bushfire affected area. We know some of these areas were hit with drought, bushfires and then COVID-19. Australians can assist in the recovery of these areas by holidaying in these locations when they can.&rdquo

Federal Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham said the program was vital to helping the recovery efforts of fire-affected communities that relied heavily on tourism.

“Regional tourism businesses have been doing it incredibly tough following the impact of bushfires, drought and the COVID-19 pandemic,” Minister Birmingham said.

“These grants will go towards revitalising a range of events that had otherwise been postponed or cancelled, as well as the development of new experiences that will encourage visitors.

“This program is crucial to helping these affected communities back on their feet and putting tourism dollars back into the regions as recovery efforts continue.”

Assistant Minister for Regional Tourism Jonno Duniam said the grants would help to revive the regional tourism industry.

“There are many regional businesses that were hit hard by the catastrophic summer bushfires and the COVID 19 pandemic,” Assistant Minister Duniam said.

“A number of events in fire-affected regions were postponed or cancelled due to travel restrictions forced by the pandemic.

“As restrictions begin to ease, these grants will help communities get back on their feet by supporting local jobs and local economies.”

The Regional Tourism Bushfire Recovery Grants program forms part of the Morrison Government’s $76 million bushfire tourism recovery package to help get the tourism industry back on its feet.

The grants program is funded as part of the National Bushfire Recovery Agency Fund and is being administered by Austrade. For further information on the RTBR grants program visit: https://www.austrade.gov.au/Australian/Tourism/Tourism-and-business/Grants/regional-tourism-bushfire-recovery-grants

 

Grant Recipient Project Title Grant amount
Mid-Western Regional Council, NSW Clandulla Mountain Bike Trail $145,000
Destination Country and Outback NSW Ltd Mudgee Region Tourism Event Vox Pops $20,000
Destination Country and Outback NSW Ltd Lithgow LithGlow Festival $20,000
Livingstone Shire Council, QLD Capricorn Coast Food Trail $180,000
Bellingen Shire Council, NSW Community Festivals and Event Fund $40,000
Bellingen Shire Council Event Stimulus Fund $105,000
Nambucca Valley Council, NSW Upgrade to Jacks Ridge Mountain Bike Track $117,500
Nambucca Valley Council 2021 Triple X Event $27,500
Coffs Harbour City Council, NSW Smash ’em Sixers $95,000
Coffs Harbour City Council Embrace Orara Valley $45,000
Coffs Harbour City Council Play Coffs Coast $5,000
Port Macquarie Hastings Council, NSW Port Macquarie Lumiere $145,000
Kempsey Shire Council, NSW Nature Trails of the Macleay Valley $195,000
Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council, NSW Promotional Poles and Banners $42,000
Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council Multicultural Festival $14,000
Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council Music by the River $3,000
Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council Treasure Hunt $41,850
Destination Southern NSW Ltd Event Promotion and Liaison Officer $80,000
Destination Southern NSW Ltd Regional Event Content Creation $60,000
Snowy Valleys Council, NSW Winter Bites Festival $390,000
Bega Valley Shire Council, NSW Tales and Trails – Whale Season $130,446
Bega Valley Shire Council Virtual Art Month 2020 $5,000
Bega Valley Shire Council Art Month 2021 $18,000
Bega Valley Shire Council Oyster Trail $45,777
Bega Valley Shire Council Sapphire Coast Local Produce Experiences $45,777
Snowy Monaro Regional Council Numeralla Folk Festival $10,000
Eurobodalla Shire Council, NSW Taste of Eurobodalla & River of Lights $30,000
Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council, NSW Braidwood Heritage Weekend $10,783
Eurobodalla Shire Council Coastal Headlands Walk $145,000
Eurobodalla Shire Council Eurobodalla Food Trails $100,000
Shoalhaven City Council, NSW Meet me in the South Coast $70,000
Shoalhaven City Council Big Country $25,000
Shoalhaven City Council South Coast Food and Wine Festival $25,000
Shoalhaven City Council Huskisson Triathlon $25,000
Shoalhaven City Council Fairgrounds $25,000
Shoalhaven City Council Burradise Festival $25,000
Destination Gippsland Ltd, VIC Supporting Key Events in East Gippsland $180,000
Bundaberg Regional Council, QLD The 12 Days of Christmas Spectacular $30,000
Wollondilly Shire Council, NSW Thirlmere Festival of Steam Event Revitalisation Plan $72,500
Wollondilly Shire Council Mermaids Pool & Tahmoor Canyon Walks $72,500
Destination Sydney Surrounds South Ltd Hallmark Events Promotion via the Grand Pacific Drive Tourist Trail $120,000
Wingecarribee Shire Council, NSW Pie Time 2021 $40,000
Wingecarribee Shire Council Savour the Unexpected $50,000
Wingecarribee Shire Council Southern Highlands Business Events $20,000
Wingecarribee Shire Council Wander the Wingecarribee 2021 $30,000
Cessnock City Council, NSW Hunter Valley Experience Planning & Booking Platform $25,000
Cessnock City Council Great North Walk Trail Head Sign $30,000
Cessnock City Council Hunter Visitor Centre Trail Head Sign $30,000
Cessnock City Council Tourist Drive 33 Selfie Trail Creation $60,000
Destination Sydney Surrounds North Ltd Wine Country $60,000
Alpine Shire Council, VIC The GOAT $200,000
Shire of Towong, VIC The High Country Rail Trail $160,000
North East Victoria Tourism Board Inc Victoria’s High Country Festival of Walks $275,000
Mid-Coast Council Barrington Coast Beats Festival $83,000
Mid-Coast Council, NSW Barrington Coast Art Trails  – The Tanks $62,000
Hawkesbury City Council, NSW Light Up Windsor Christmas Trail $55,000
Blue Mountains City Council, NSW Katoomba Laneway Art Installation Project $145,000
Destination Sydney Surrounds North Ltd Dino Valley $36,000
Destination Sydney Surrounds North Ltd Light Up Windsor Christmas Trail $20,000
Southern Downs Regional Council, QLD Stanthorpe Street Party $30,000
Southern Downs Regional Council Recovery and Resilience through Public Art $20,000
Kangaroo Island Tourism Food Wine and Beverages Association New Shoots Music Festival $189,400
Kangaroo Island Tourism Food Wine and Beverages Association, SA Kangaroo Island Sculpture Trail $85,000
Kangaroo Island Tourism Food Wine and Beverages Association From the Heart $20,000
Kangaroo Island Tourism Food Wine and Beverages Association Gastronomo $165,600
Kangaroo Island Tourism Food Wine and Beverages Association Marketing and Mentoring Event Coordination $30,000
Adelaide Hills Council, SA Bushland Park Trails $40,000
Adelaide Hills Council Flocking Together $40,000
Adelaide Hills Council Amy Gillett Pathway $60,000
Adelaide Hills Tourism Incorporated, SA Crush 2021 $32,500
Adelaide Hills Tourism Incorporated Sparkling Spring/September 2021 $80,000
Adelaide Hills Tourism Incorporated Winter Reds 2021 $32,500
Walcha Council, NSW New England High County (NEHC) National Park Sountrails Visitor Attractions and Promotion $230,680
Glen Innes Severn Council, NSW Escape to Play – Visitor Attractions $145,000
Destination Country and Outback NSW Ltd Glen Innes Australian Celtic Festival $10,000
Destination Country and Outback NSW Ltd Glen Innes Minerama Fossicking, Gem & Jewellery Show $10,000
Destination Country and Outback NSW Ltd Walcha Motorcycle Rally $20,000
Destination Country and Outback NSW Ltd Inverell Sapphire City Festival $20,000
Destination Country and Outback NSW Ltd Peter Allen Festival $20,000
Destination Country and Outback NSW Ltd Armidale Beer & BBQ Festival $20,000
Armidale Regional Council, NSW The Armidale Spring Games $145,000
Tenterfield Shire Council, NSW Art Installations Tenterfield Creek $145,000
Glen Innes Severn Council, NSW GlenFest $10,000
Clarence Valley Council, NSW Light Up Grafton Jacarandas $183,500
Clarence Valley Council Grafton Jacarandas Alight $11,500
Richmond Valley Council, NSW Casino Scenic and Heritage Walk $125,230
Kyogle Council, NSW Art on Bundjalung $100,000
Lismore City Council, NSW Shine Festival $145,000
Ballina Shire Council, NSW Aboriginal Cultural Ways Phase Two $145,000
Tweed Shire Council, NSW Tweed Hinterland Trails $145,000
Destination Sydney Surrounds North Ltd Central Coast Create $29,000
Noosa Shire Council, QLD FireTech International Conference $100,000
Noosa Shire Council NOOSA alive! Reiginite $15,000
Scenic Rim Regional Council, QLD Popera in the Paddock $145,000
Brisbane Marketing Pty Ltd, QLD Great Gondwana Festival $145,000