Victoria’s Pyrenees Shire Council has teamed with the Grampians Pyrenees Regional Development Board (GPRDB) to launch a land giveaway competition, offering potential tree changers the chance to build their dream home in Avoca.
Located in central Victoria, the Pyrenees Shire has a population of just over 6,600 people. It is a very productive agricultural region, covering 3,500 square kilometres.
The land giveaway competition will be launched on Thursday 18 September at the Royal Melbourne Show, where the Grampians Pyrenees will be the showcase region in the Grand Pavilion from September 18–28.
Pyrenees Shire Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Cornish, said Council was excited to be part of the land giveaway, which is a regional marketing initiative that has proved popular before.
“In 2004, we received 2,000 entries in a land giveaway promotion at Melbourne’s Federation Square,” he said. “Not only did one lucky Melbourne man win a block of land in Avoca, the increased interest in the Grampians Pyrenees resulted in substantial development for the town.
“We’re definitely an emerging hot spot for tree changers.”
Pyrenees Shire Mayor, Councillor Lester Harris, said the Avoca community was right behind the promotion.
“The Grampians Pyrenees is a great place to live, work and raise a family,” he said. “The communities in the Pyrenees Shire are progressive and welcoming of new residents.
“Part of a recent subdivision by Council, the block of land up for grabs is prime real estate, located next to the bowls and golf clubs, close to the Avoca River and a short walk to the town centre. It would be fantastic to see a home built on this land and new residents become part of the local community.”
GPRDB Chair, Ian Wilson, said the land giveaway complements the Board’s key marketing project for 2008.
“Each year the Board is fortunate to receive funding from Provincial Victoria to conduct a major Grampians Pyrenees marketing initiative to target the Melbourne metropolitan audience,” Ian Wilson said. “Last year was the highly publicised ‘Win a Business’ competition and this year the Board has organised an impressive Grampians Pyrenees exhibit at the Royal Melbourne Show. The land giveaway ties in perfectly with this exhibit and with the Show attracting around 500,000 visitors over an
11 day period, we are confident it’s going to create quite a buzz in Melbourne and beyond.”
To enter the competition, participants must collect a ticket from the GPRDB stand during the Melbourne Show.
The ticket must then be physically lodged at a Visitor Information Centre in the Grampians Pyrenees before
31 January.
The winner will be announced in February 2009.
For further information contact Angela Hunt at the
GPRDB on 0418 504 493.
