Located in western New South Wales, Balranald Shire Council’s Economic Development Committee recognised that the opening of the nearby Yanga National Park in 2009 and an apparent increasing interest in Mungo National Park, was eventually going to impact the area through increasing visitor numbers.
With that in mind, it was suggested that Council encourage more local people to consider running a tourism business.
A brochure with the title Start Your Own Tourism Business was prepared, and after several redrafts, it was folded to DL size and at least 850 were distributed to households across the Shire.
The Balranald Council area covers around 22,000 square kilometres and includes Mungo and Yanga National Parks, as well as five rivers – Lachlan, Murrumbidgee, Wakool, Edward and Murray. Some people might describe it as a fishermen’s paradise.
Traditional dry land pastoral activity is carried out in most of the Shire and some smaller but significant areas rely on the Murray and Murrumbidgee water for irrigation. The Sturt Highway runs through Balranald and Euston, linking Sydney and Adelaide.
There are six motels and an increasingly popular caravan park in Balranald, as well as other caravan parks in Euston and Kyalite. The Euston Club also has a motel and river cabins.
The New South Wales State Government purchased Yanga Station almost six years ago. This move cost the Shire a number of jobs, around a million dollars worth of local business per annum, and important rateable income for both Balranald and Wakool Shires. However, it was done with the promise that the new National Park would attract at least 50,000 visitors a year.
Council’s Manager Economic Development, Hank van Apeldoorn, said this purchase, along with several other State and Federal Government decisions resulting in job losses and subsequent population decline has affected the economic prosperity of Balranald.
“Anecdotal evidence suggests that some Balranald businesses have lost as much as 50 per cent of their income from the cumulative effects of government decisions,” he said. “Ironically, both the State and Federal Governments appear keen to provide grants for all manner of targeted projects.”
Council received responses from six people who wanted some assistance in developing a tourism business following the brochure distribution.
“The Committee wasn’t disappointed with that number, as these are the very people we need to turn our economic situation around,” Hank van Apeldoorn said. “Our biggest asset is our natural environment, including our rivers, lakes and National Parks, and the potential to increase visitor numbers is our greatest opportunity.
“The clear challenge is to turn what is essentially a rural service centre focus into servicing the growing visitor numbers.
“Council has invested in new cabins at the Balranald caravan park and we are finding that more and more caravan park patrons are repeat visitors who are turning to Balranald, Euston and Kyalite as destinations in their own right.”
Those that responded to the brochure, indicated they would like further information on the following areas:
- introduction to the tourism industry
- writing a business plan
- financial assistance
- training courses
- licensing, permits and insurance.
Hank van Apeldoorn said Council will be engaging the regional Business Enterprise Centre to take each individual through some of the basics of establishing their own tourism business, and will engage other expertise to focus on an introduction to the tourism industry, licensing, permits and insurance.
“Council has to nurture these and other individuals to take this path and turn around a mindset focused on primary industry to start focusing on servicing our visitors,” he said. “This is our biggest long term economic development opportunity.
“Yanga Lake and Lake Benanee are almost full again, our lower Murrumbidgee wetlands are teaming with wildlife, our Yanga National Parks signs have been installed on the Sturt Highway and we are open for business.”
For further information contact Hank van Apeldoorn on 0428 601 266.
