Enthusiasm abounds at agritourism workshop

A group of rural land-holders along the Long Paddock touring route in south western NSW are taking advantage of the Long Paddock Tourism on the Land program facilitated by Southern Cross University.

The program aims to support local farmers and rural land-holders interested in diversifying into agritourism and food tourism.

At the first of a series of Long Paddock Tourism on the Land workshops held in the area recently, 20 farmers from 13 properties participated in the project, coming up with an appealing mix of ‘tourism experience’ ideas based on the unique characteristics of the region’s pastoral history, life on the land and the region’s locally grown produce.

In following workshops they will be stepped through the process of developing their ideas into a workable business model. The broad aim of each business is to give visitors to the region the ability to connect with the local people, the landscape and the produce generated in the Long Paddock, and to ensure their visit to the Long Paddock is authentic and memorable.

“The new agritourism recruits are off to a flying start,” said Rose Wright, manager of the Tourism Extension Unit at Southern Cross University. Ms Wright has been running these workshops in many regional areas of Australia for several years.

“The first of the five Long Paddock workshops got off to a wonderful start. We now have 13 exciting potential businesses working on creative ideas to develop their agritourism product along the Long Paddock touring route.”

The Long Paddock is the colloquial term used for the stock routes that cross Australia - open stretches of unfenced land that anyone can use to move stock or feed in times of drought.

The Long Paddock-Cobb Highway touring route follows the length of the Cobb Highway (610 km) from Echuca and Moama on the Victorian border through Mathoura, Deniliquin, Pretty Pine, Wanganella, Booroorban, Hay, Booligal and Ivanhoe, to the outback at Wilcannia. It passes over the Murray, Edward, Murrumbidgee, Lachlan and Darling rivers.

The touring route takes visitors through unique landscapes including the Hay plains, renowned as the flattest place in the southern hemisphere. It also crosses some of the most historically important agricultural country in Australia.

“Tourism provides farming families with options to diversify the family farm or to value-add to their existing produce. For some farmers it provides a viable alternative income stream and provides valuable connections directly to the customer of their produce,” Ms Wright said.

“Tourism, like farming, is a long-term investment. It takes time to establish, but if planned and delivered well, it can reap profits.

“Tourism is a great way to build awareness and recognition of the importance of agriculture to the Australian economy and to build understanding between country people and visitors who live in our big cities.”

Conargo Shire Council is enthusiastically supporting food and agritourism as an economic development tool for the region.

“We are very eager to work with participants in the program in any way council can, now and into the future,” said Barry Barlow, general manager of Conargo Shire Council.

“In undertaking these workshops, we greatly appreciate the effort from the Long Paddock committee and Southern Cross University. We believe the workshops were very successful with a number of participants from the area and we wish them all the best in their endeavours for a successful business.”

The Long Paddock Tourism on the Land workshops are an initiative of the Long Paddock committee with funding from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and will continue next year.

Southern Cross University via its Tourism Extension Unit in the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management assists regions develop and implement plans to maximise tourism opportunities. It has developed the Growing Regional Tourism program, a flexible framework to assist individuals, organisations and communities maximise the opportunity tourism presents to local economies.

“Whether it is research and development, industry development, education or capacity building, Southern Cross University can provide you with a new way to think about tourism,” Ms Wright said.

For more information on how to grow regional tourism phone (02) 6626 9431 or email tourism.extension@scu.edu.au.

Photo: Participants in the Long Paddock workshop, L to R: Lex and Annette Gardam, Sue and Joe Weir, Kathy and Lawry Smits, David and Kerry Nevinson, Mark Thomas, Birgit Schultz, Robyn Rae (SCU), Rob Landale, Lousie Burge, Sandra Ireson, Edwina McFarland, Cath and Rick Nelson, Matt Ireson and Fiona Porter. (High res pic available on request.)