A $25,000 Brumby Labor Government grant will kick off the inaugural Tour de Flavour Ultimate High Country Weekend: Wheels, Wine and Wellbeing Festival at Mansfield and Mt Buller, on the March 13-14 weekend.
Member for Northern Victoria Region, Candy Broad announced the funding today.
“The Ultimate High Country Weekend is a quality new event that aims to attract visitors from Melbourne, interstate and overseas to Mansfield and add to the region’s reputation as a great destination for cycling, recreation, gourmet food and wine,” Ms Broad said.
“The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to support events that enhance business growth, jobs and social benefits.”
The new event features a diverse program of cycling, gourmet food, wine and music, including:
- Up Close and Personal Concert, headlined by James Reyne, Mark Seymour, Joe Camilleri and supported by local talent;
- Food and Wine on High Festival, including the Winemakers Vintage Festival, Winery Walkabout on Saturday afternoon, and Restaurant Ramble on Saturday night;
- Cycling Business Expo in Mansfield’s Botanical Gardens;
- Criterium road cycling race late Saturday afternoon, designed to attract elite cyclists and bring crowds into Mansfield’s CBD;
- Children’s Cycle Ride with the Animals – at Mansfield Zoo;
- Health and Wellbeing expo incorporating nutrition, sports fitness, and massage throughout Mansfield’s CBD over the entire weekend; and
- Concert Recovery Breakfast in Mansfield’s CBD Sunday morning, including a bush market, buskers and street performers.
Ms Broad said tourism was an important source of income and jobs in the Mansfield region.
“Mansfield has about 1.2 million visitors a year, generating approximately $134 million in revenue,” she said. “Employment generated by tourism within the Shire ranges from 1,500 year-round to 4,500 on a seasonal basis.
“One such tourist attraction is the High Country Cycle Challenge, which has been running in Mansfield for three years.
“The 2008 event attracted 850 participants plus 550 crew, resulting in a direct spend in the shire of $258,000, over just one weekend,” Ms Broad said.
“The new Ultimate High Country Weekend event will build on the success of the High Country Cycle Challenge, which will run in the background of the Ultimate High Country Weekend.”
The $25,000 grant is being provided to Mansfield Shire Council over two years under the Brumby Labor Government’s Provincial Victoria Local Events Program.
“The Provincial Victoria Local Events Program is helping to finance events that bring business growth and socio-economic development to towns across provincial Victoria,” Ms Broad said.