Push to unlock Scenic Rim’s tourism potential

It’s long been considered farming heartland but after drought and bushfire have plagued the area, leaders are hopeful tourism can fill the void by unlocking one of Queensland’s most underrated regions.

BATTLING the twin terrors of drought and bushfire, the Scenic Rim’s $240 million agricultural industry has taken a battering, but leaders are hopeful tourism can fill the void by unlocking one of Queensland’s most underrated regions.

A fertile strip stretching from the Gold Coast hinterland to Ipswich and Logan, the Scenic Rim has long been considered farming heartland, but tourism is taking hold as the drought forces farms to scale back or shut down altogether. For the past three years, the ­region has been dogged by below-average rainfall, while two rounds of recent bushfires have been another blow.

However, the number of visitors to the region increased by more than 260,000 people last year to more than 2.5 million – the highest on record.

Scenic Rim visitor numbers have grown by a million in the past decade.

(From left) Teddy Overell, 6, with his brothers, Patrick, 8, and Aidan, 10, at Worendo Cottages in the Scenic Rim. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Convincing just a quarter of the region’s 1.4 million day trippers to stay the night would add an estimated $70 million to the economy, surpassing agriculture as the Scenic Rim’s economic power house.

Dam levels are not yet at dire levels and farms can still irrigate, but Mayor Greg Christensen said there was no doubt the drought had taken a toll on agriculture.

He said a series of new events next year would help to bring in extra visitors.

Scenic Rim Seasons will see four banquets held through­out the year inspired by ­particular seasons, with the first – a feast celebrating summer, scheduled for February 15. The Lost World trail festival to be held in May will feature races ranging from 7km up to a half-marathon.

Towri Sheep Cheeses Carolyn Davidson with her daughter Dallas. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“The drought has been extremely challenging and there’s a lot of pain out there in agriculture – that’s why our tourism industry is so important,” he said.

“I believe this is a region that has massive potential for tourism that creates joy in ­people,” Cr Christensen said.

“It’s just an hour out of Brisbane. We are the jewel of south-east Queensland.”

Nathan Overell from Worendo Cottages at Darlington said business had dropped by about 25 per cent. He implored would-be tourists to return to the region.

“We desperately need people from the coast to come back, because even though a lot of the region is in drought and the fires have certainly played a part, the scenery is drop-dead stunning.

“If things don’t improve, it will push us to the wall.”