Head - Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing

Frasers Campsite at Cathedral Beach, Fraser Island
5 .1 .12 Hervey Bay Food and Beverage
Attraction
One of the major weaknesses which must be addressed is the
lack of mainland based all weather visitor attractions within
Hervey Bay-Fraser Coast area. Currently, Fraser Island is
positioned as the primary visitor attraction but is unable to offer
all weather experiences.
The Hervey Bay area provides a challenging urban environment
because of the rapid growth in population which the area has
experienced over the last 10 years and may experience even
stronger population growth in the next 10 years. As such, the
previous discreet 4 fishing villages which made up designated
areas along the waterfront now are seen to be merged with little
ability for differentiation.
In addition, because the population is quite spread throughout
Hervey Bay it is challenging finding the ideal location for a visitor
attraction. One preference may be a location along the
waterfront esplanade either on part of the existing open space
parkland owned by Council (in and around the existing surf
club) or close to the Urangan pier. Another preference could be
on land allocation in Maryborough with retail outlets (linked to
the attraction) located throughout the region. The eventual site
preference or identification will need to be identified in local
government planning schemes and through consultation with
local government.
With an older population base reflecting a high percentage of
retirees, and a more mature age visitor market than is
experienced in locations such as the Gold Coast with its theme
parks, consideration should be given to a different style of
indoor attraction.
32 http://www.maryboroughqldbusiness.com/history.html, cited October 2008
There is a cluster of built visitor attractions centred around a
variety of themes already in the Bundaberg region which could
offer a complementary experience and should be packaged
with whatever new attraction is created in Hervey Bay. The
drive time and distance between Hervey Bay and Bundaberg is
not great (90 minutes).
With its historic link to coastal trading and distilleries,
consideration could be given to creating an all-weather visitor
attraction which:
� Focuses on value-adding to local quality produce including
the region's seafood;
� Highlights the history of the food and beverage industry and
its significance;
� Considers providing a boutique brewery, or offering food
processing relating to for example organic fruit, chocolate or
fruit based confectionary;
� Provides tasting rooms and viewing areas of food or
beverage processing; and
� Offers retailing and wholesaling opportunities.
5 .1 .13 Maryborough Historic Precinct and
Cultural Walk
The TOP has identified that the City of Maryborough holds a
range of opportunities for cultural tourism themed around its
historic buildings and river (Portside) precinct. Maryborough
founded in 1847 is one of Queensland's oldest towns and was
originally a wool port. It then became an important free settlers'
port, at one point being second only to Sydney for the number
of migrants being received. The port also became important for
timber, "kanakas" migration, and sugar cane. 32
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5 Tourism and support
infrastructure opportunities