Helping to revatilise and bring direction to the Harden shire is a new tourism development and marketing plan, the first of its kind.
Recently completed the new tourism plan will be part of a series of projects designed to improve the shire.
The tourism plan aims to create jobs and to combat the decline in employment in the retail sector, industry and agriculture.
The Harden shire has the potential to significantly increase visitation from its present low base, building on the area’s many assets.
A community group, Harden Shire Community Action, commissioned the report, which was prepared by tourism consultants Jenny Rand and Associates with funding from NSW Industry and Investment, the Geoffrey Kruger Trust and Harden Shire Council.
Jenny Rand, who has previously advised many regional towns (including Jugiong) on economic development issues, met with council and many of the shire’s tourist operators, village and community groups over several months to formulate the comprehensive plan.
President of Harden Shire Community Action, John Wade said the 92-page report was a very thorough analysis of the state of the tourism industry in Harden shire.
“Jenny Rand has brought a fresh approach, and shows what we can do to grow tourism and the economy of the shire,” Mr Wade said.
“What appeals to visitors is often different from what locals may want.
“What locals see as familiar surroundings, visitors see as a beautiful landscape and charming historic buildings.”
In a series of community consultations, almost everyone said we needed to beautify the towns and villages, and re-use closed businesses and shops.
Mr Wade said locals stressed the need to improve infrastructure, to co-ordinate effort, to make information on Harden Shire and its attractions readily available to visitors and to plan an annual events program.
The new tourism plan identifies cost effective opportunities to grow visitation around the many existing visitor attractions, events, activities and facilities in the shire, mapping out the direction and framework to develop, market and promote our local tourism industry.
One example would be to create an event template for community groups helping them plan and promote their events better.
The tourism plan also identifies specific visitor markets that can be targeted.
Realising these opportunities will require all key stakeholders to work together.
This year, Harden Shire Council has also co-ordinated the development of a Community Vision Strategic Plan and this new tourism plan forms part of that broader vision.
As well as shire-wide strategies, specific strategies are recommended for the villages of Galong, Jugiong and Wombat.
Following one of the tourism plan’s recommendations, council has appointed an Economic Development Officer, whose role includes promoting tourism as well as appointing consultants to develop a marketing and branding strategy.
“There is great scope to promote our quiet, historic towns and villages as refuges from the stress of city living,” Mr Wade said.
“Visitors from Sydney or Canberra don’t want crowded roads and endless suburbia.
“They want the freedom of our open roads, our vistas, our big skies, our rolling countryside, our sheep, cattle, fresh produce, and canola, and our quaint villages.
“They want to relax and see something different, and connect with regional Australia.”
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