To help boost the economic and social viability of the Shire, in the organisational restructure of Council, economic development, tourism, recreation and leisure have all been brought together in the one division.
Tourism
Bingara and Warialda are both located on the Fossicker’s Way. This offers tourists a peaceful and scenic alternative to the busy New England and Newell Highways. Warialda is also the southern gateway to the new ‘Rural Get-away’ tourist route which heads north to Mundubbera in Queensland. Council operated Tourist Centres are located in each town providing services to people travelling on the Fossicker’s Way, the Gwydir Highway and the Rural Get-away route. A number of people visiting Gwydir have later purchased properties in the town and become permanent residents. Attractive streetscaping in both towns has improved the amenity for tourists and residents alike.
Warialda Tourist Centre
As part of the Council’s strategy to increase the Warialda Tourist Centre’s exposure to tourists, and at the same time increase the number of self care accommodation units for older people in the town, Council has purchased two parcels of land.
This will provide for:
- the relocation of the Tourist Centre
- off street parking for visitors and shoppers
- an additional 11 aged self care units to be constructed at the Warialda Homes for the Aged facility.
Residential subdivisions
Demand for residential land in Bingara resulted in the Council purchasing crown land already subdivided into 34 lots or 18 lots; the sizing of the final configuration of the lots is flexible to meet the needs of the prospective purchasers. Council has installed water and sewerage services to some of the land in readiness for sale.
Plans are also well advanced for the development of crown land adjacent to the Warialda Golf Course for residential lots. These projects will accommodate the rising demand from people seeking to leave the ‘big smoke’ and have a ‘tree change’ in their lives.
Gwydir Land Grab
In August 2004 Council had a promotional stall at the Country Week Expo in Sydney. To maximise the media exposure to the area during the Expo, Council ran a ‘Gwydir Land Grab’ competition for a free residential block of land. The promotion resulted in numerous interviews on local, Sydney and State radio stations, as well as being mentioned in local, regional and Sydney based television news segments. The promotion also received coverage in the Sydney Morning Herald, regional and local papers.
