Coonamble Shire Tourism Newsletter Page 1

Text Box: Restaurateurs, producers and lovers of food and wine. Macquarie Valley Food and Wine will hold their first Farmers Market of 2006 on Saturday 4th February between 0800-1200 on the lawns of the Dubbo Visitor Information Centre. Following the markets at 1230 will be a networking function to encourage new members of the network. Coonamble is included in the region covered by MVF&W. For program click here.

Text Box: This is the first of what will be a monthly e-newsletter distributed to local industry and community members in the shire. We will showcase what is happening in and around the region, update you on tourism projects and let you know how you can become involved. Tourism is everyone’s business and we need your help to promote the shire as a place to live, work and visit. Hardcopies of this newsletter are available for those without access to the internet. Why a tourism newsletter and a tourism manager in Coonamble? Coonamble Shire Council has endorsed and is implementing the 2002 Tourism Action Plan developed under the NSW Department of State and Regional Development Sense of Place program. One of the key recommendations in the plan was that council employ a tourism manager to develop tourism in the shire and implement the plan. Since commencing in the position at the end of February 2005 I have made efforts to meet as many of the community

Text Box: as possible but given the size of the shire I will have to rely on this newsletter for regular communication. A little bit about me for those I have not yet had the chance to meet. Prior to moving to Coonamble I spent nearly nine years at Canberra Tourism & Events Corporation where I held various positions with the Canberra & Region Visitors Centre, Industry Development and Events units. Prior to entering tourism I was in hospitality for ten years and have also spent some time working in the former Soviet Union and Australian Army. I have a BA Tourism and Trade Cookery qualifications. The shire is a great place to live and to visit, I encourage you to help me to tell others! It has been a few years since I produced a regular newsletter so I apologise in advance for any problems with the technology and we welcome your feedback and input for future issues Steven Baldwin Tourism Development Manager Coonamble Shire Council

Text Box: The Museum is located on the site of the former Mounted Police Station, Residence and Stables. In the last year the museum has undergone a major refurbishment with the demolition of some modern extensions and work to improve the structural integrity of the building. Consultant Colin Jones has prepared a future directions plan for the Museum

Text Box: and a review of the museum collection is currently underway with the aim of focusing the museum on a particular theme. That theme may relate to the Museum buildings' previous use and could include the horses, law and order, system of justice, inmates NSW mounted police etc. The museum is currently closed until further notice.

Text Box: 24 January 2006

Text Box: Tourism Update

Text Box: Special points of interest: Tourism bought $862 Million in expenditure to Central NSW in the year to March 2005 2.1 Million Domestic overnight & 2.2 Domestic Day visitors to Central NSW in the year to March 2005 40,600 international visitors for same period.

Feedback prompts changes to tourism logo	2
Two final draft brand concepts	2
Coming Events	3
Coonamble Visitor Information Centre	3
Coonamble In the Past	4
Links	4
Industry News	4

Text Box: How to use the links? If you are viewing this newsletter online you can follow the links that look like this to view other pages, sites and files