By SONJA KOREMANS
EVERYONE loves a dummy-spit, and this week the region’s tourism industry outdid itself.
A stoush over the appointment of a new seven-member tourism board has veered towards the combustible, from fiery scenes at a council meeting last week surrounding the board’s approval, to catty insults from industry heavyweights about who was selected.
For those of you coming in late, an “us and them” spat has erupted between Warwick and Stanthorpe tourism operators, following the announcement of the new board Destination Southern Downs, as only two of the seven members are from the Granite Belt.
Opinions are also divided over whether the Southern Downs Regional Council (SDRC) could legally approve the board, while many Stanthorpe wineries are incensed that there is no representation from their industry.
But there has been a fresh development from the board’s first meeting this week.
Vice-chairperson Marion Carrick thanked the community for its feedback on the lack of specific industry representation on the board.
“We have decided to fill the two vacancies on the current board,” Ms Carrick said.
“Given the recommendation was to have three industry representatives from the north and three from the south, we will be looking for one representative from the north and one from the south to fill vacancies. The board hopes that we are able to balance the representation with industries that are currently not represented.”
The board headed by Warwick-based Corinne Butler, was selected by SDRC mayor Peter Blundell and independent selectors, with all board positions voluntary and unpaid.
Ms Butler is Queensland president of the Australian Human Resource Institute and vice-president of the Queensland Rural Regional and Remote Women’s Network.
“The key focus of the board will be developing a strategic plan for the region, approval of major projects and budgets and advocating on behalf of operators at all levels of government,” Ms Butler said.
Ms Carrick is co-owner of Allure Boutique Villas. Also on the board are Warwick Credit Union CEO Lewis von Stieglitz; AgBiTech co-owner and Southern Downs Regional Council Futures Board chair Peta Dawes; Peter Bonner, owner of Aloomba Lavender and Stanthorpe Agricultural Society Organising Committee member; Spring Creek Mountain Cafe and Cottages owner Bev Ruskey and Majella Kahler, the owner of Kahler’s Oasis Caravan Park and president of Caravan Parks Association of Queensland and board member of the Caravan Industry Association of Australia.
Destination Southern Downs will be operational by 1 July.
