Toowoomba council to sponsor Planners Institute of Australia Qld’s state conference at Empire Theatre
Council has unanimously voted to sponsor a key industry conference at the Empire Theatre this year for $17,000, with proponents arguing it could inject $1.6m into the local economy.
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Queensland’s peak body representing town and urban planners will be bringing its state conference to Toowoomba in August, in a move that could provide a $1.6m windfall to the city.
The Empire Theatre will host more than 250 planners and professionals for the Queensland branch of the Planning Institute of Australia’s state conference in August.
The move has been underpinned by a $17,000 sponsorship by the Toowoomba Regional Council, which was unanimously endorsed by councillors at Tuesday’s committee meetings.
The three-day conference will include panels, roundtables, keynote speakers and other media events to discuss key issues around planning and development in Queensland.
In her report to council, urban designer principal Alison Banks argued hosting the conference would deliver economic benefits as well as promote Toowoomba to a highly in-demand industry.
“The conference program will provide visitors with the opportunity to see and learn more about the Toowoomba region through study tours/walks and a comprehensive sponsorship package of promotional opportunities,” the report said.
“The venue, the heritage-listed Empire Theatre, will focus the conference on Toowoomba’s commitment to preservation of character and heritage.”
Acting planning and development general manager Kari Musgrove agreed with the sentiment, believing it could advertise the region and the TRC as a potential employer.
“From a talent attraction point of view, to be able to showcase an event like this in our region and do case studies where we can take planners from all around Queensland and potentially some from interstate, to show them some of the things that we’re working on and, and our beautiful city and our great climate, it’s just a wonderful opportunity,” she said on Tuesday.
“For me as a town planner I just think it’s such a great opportunity to have so many people of that ilk in the one place, noting that we’re hopefully looking at around 250 attendees.”
The $17,000 sponsorship funding will come out the planning and development department’s budget, as the general sponsorship pool had been exhausted for the financial year.
In the sponsorship prospectus to the council, PIA Queensland manager Nicole Bennetts said the organisation’s decision to host the conference in Toowoomba reflected the city’s “regional strength”.
“As the annual flagship event for Queensland’s planning profession, this conference will draw industry leaders, decision-makers, and innovators to Toowoomba,” she wrote.
“With your support, we can deliver an event that reflects Toowoomba’s regional strength and innovation while highlighting your organisation’s key role in advancing planning excellence.
“Following extensive considerations of venue options over the past two years, The Empire Theatre was found to be the only venue suitable to host conference in Toowoomba.”
Originally published as Toowoomba council to sponsor Planners Institute of Australia Qld’s state conference at Empire Theatre
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