Big ibis, brush turkey, watermelon named in ‘Next Big Thing’ competition

THEY’RE often scolded by people but a giant ibis could be the next tourist attraction to go up in Brisbane thanks to a nationwide competition for the ‘Next Big Thing’. VOTE IN POLL

The nationwide competition saw a big ibis suggested for Brisbane.

QUEENSLAND already has a ‘big’ pineapple, rum bottle, mango and not the last nor least, the big bulls at Rockhampton, but what about a big ibis, owl or even a watermelon as a tourist attraction?

They are just some of the suggestions for a new addition to the Sunshine State in a nationwide competition for the ‘Next Big Thing’.

SEE SUGGESTIONS BELOW AND COMMENT TO ADD YOUR OWN

Online travel site Wotif is going to foot the bill for a new structure and gift it to a local council as a tourist attraction as parts of the company’s 18th birthday celebrations.

Western Downs Regional Council Mayor Paul McVeigh has given an interim tick of approval for a giant watermelon in Chinchilla.

The watermelon was one of the more logical submissions for a tourist attraction in Queensland.

Others included a flower in Toowoomba, an owl in Beerwah, a surfboard on the Gold Coast, an Ibis for Brisbane, a sheep foot for Townsville and a big sausage and bread anywhere in Queensland.

No one has yet suggested a big coffee or Milo tin for Gympie despite a push for a monolith replica late last year in recognition of the aroma that wafts from the local Nestle factory.

Mr McVeigh said the council was already in the planning stage of a watermelon-themed water park along the Warrego Hwy.

How about a big brush turkey in Noosa?

He said the $6 million project, on 10 hectares, would be the ideal location for a giant watermelon.

“We are developing a parkland and within that is a water feature and the theme is all around watermelons,” he told The Courier-Mail.

“That in conjunction with a giant watermelon would be a perfect fit and I’d be pretty excited if we could get it, but obviously we would have to gift the land and you have to take that to council.”

The watermelon suggestion for Chinchilla was one of the more logical submissions for a tourist attraction in Queensland.

The competition to find Australia’s next big thing started on September 5 and thousands of suggestions have been received including a big whale, meat pie, lamington and a scone.

Just because the submissions may be funny or off-centre, like a giant burr for the outback Queensland town of Morven, does not mean they are immediately dismissed, said Wotif spokesman Chris Milligan.

“If it’s something funny, and it’s also contextually relevant to the town, and will bring tourists to the area then it will be included,” Mr Milligan said.

“There is a committee that will go through the entries and make sure they meet the selection criteria.”

The preliminary stage of the competition will close on September 18 and then voting for the shortlist of finalists will start on September 25.

A giant sheep foot was the suggestion for Townsville.

There are likely to be fewer than 10 suggestions that make the shortlist, where the one that receives the most public votes will win.

The relevant councils, where attractions have been suggested, would first be approached and asked if they would offer the land for their ‘big’ gift before they are listed as a finalist.

“The council has to be willing to accept the gift and it’s designed to bring tourists to the area and we want to make sure it’s wanted by the community,” Mr Milligan said.

“We will work with councils throughout the entire process.

“Contextual relevance to the town is part of the criteria and a reason why it should be in that town.”

Let's face it, we're all suckers for a snag. A big sausage in bread was put forward for as one of the suggestions.

Some of the QLD suggestions:

Ibis – Brisbane

Sausage and Bread – QLD

A Big Owl – Beerwah

Watermelon – Chinchilla

Flower –Toowoomba

Brush Turkey – Noosa

Surfboard – Coolangatta

Sheep Foot – Townville

Burr - Morvan

Sandcastle – Fraser Island