Brunswick Heads' Story

Funding, support and advice through the Townlife Program has enabled Brunswick Heads to pursue economic development while retaining its friendly and relaxed lifestyle.

"Knowing you're not completely on your own
is essential in challenging times."
Kim Rosen, events coordinator, Brunswick Heads

Brunswick Heads is a coastal town of 1,900 people located in Byron Shire in northern NSW.

Its main industry is tourism.

Facing the challenges

Blessed with a great climate and natural beauty, Brunswick Heads was struggling to strike a balance between maintaining its friendly and relaxed lifestyle and encouraging development.

An authentic seaside town where bikes are often used because everyone lives within short distances of the beach and the shops, it felt it had lost opportunities when it was bypassed by the rerouted Pacific Highway a few years ago. Initially the highway bypass was thought to be the nail in the coffin for a town which was disintegrating economically and becoming increasingly polarised

Silting of the Brunswick River compounded the loss because it meant the end of the fishing fleet.

Nevertheless, the Chamber of Commerce remains a driving force in the community, supporting far more than only economic initiatives.

The small population is united in its quest to retain the safe, low-key family-friendly village atmosphere and regularly bands together to make things happen for the benefit of all.

Our project

Economic revitalisation was taken on by the Chamber of Commerce with assistance through the Townlife Development Program.

Family festivals were identified as one of the key strategies to promote the town's identity as a family-friendly coastal village.

Several community-driven projects have also been initiated, including the Streetscaping Project.

The town's economic health has grown substantially in the past three years. The peaks and troughs have been evened out considerably and now with the opening of the motorway linking Chinderah to Yelgun, which cuts 20 minutes off the trip between Brunswick Heads and Brisbane, Brunswick Heads is experiencing an increase in tourism, especially on weekends.

The latest challenge is to improve the standard of amenities. The community has coped by being pro-active - by banding together, looking for solutions and envisioning and planning specific outcomes.

What we've achieved

Funding from the Townlife Development Program had enabled the staging of a much more professional Kites and Bikes Festival in March 2001, with a higher level of participation and greater exposure.

A coordinator was employed part-time, kite experts were brought in from Sydney and Coffs Harbour and a TV campaign successfully promoted the festival outside the Shire.

The one day event held in October every year, now attracts 5,000 - 6,000 people. Some of the biggest kites in Australia are flown on the beach and there's kite 'challenges' using Japanese-style fighting kites. The event also features special demonstrations of kite surfing, kite buggying and kite skateboarding.

Townlife Development Program funding was then used to assist the employment of an events co-ordinator to establish the branding of Brunswick Heads as the 'Eco-friendly family fun' destination for Shire residents and visitors.

Three family-oriented festivals were conducted last year:

• Touch-a-Truck in March
• the inaugural Old and Gold Festival in June
• Kites and Bikes in October.

Touch-a-Truck is held annually and attracts around 2,000 people. The centrepiece is a display of 25 trucks parked and lined up in a closed street. The drivers stay with their trucks while kids climb aboard and explore them. There are also spectacular demonstrations put on by the SES, rescue squad and fire brigade.

The Old and Gold Festival is the newest festival which attracts around 8,000. It celebrates everything old, secondhand and recycled - a good fit with the eco-friendly theme.

The town of Brunswick Heads is experiencing economic revitalisation:

• Greater trade due to a doubling of weekend tourist numbers.
• Employment opportunities are increasing, particularly in hospitality. New businesses are being established and many properties are being refurbished.
• Real estate prices are rising as visitors succumb to the lure of life in Brunswick Heads.
• A spin-off from the events committee is the formation of a local event management company called Fingers in the Pie, which will stage an enhanced Old and Gold Festival this year.

We've benefited from so many learning experiences and increased expertise in community development through the networking meetings.

How the Townlife Development Program has helped

By the end of 2002, Brunswick Heads had changed its image from 'down and out' to a happening place with a successful 'eco-friendly family fun' branding.

Apart from the actual funding, the town has greatly benefited from invaluable ongoing support and advice from the Townlife Development Program consultants. The networking meetings, regional and state conferences organised by the NSW Department of State and Regional Development, which I have attended as events co-ordinator have been particularly important and motivational.

What we're doing now

Our number one project now is the CBD Streetscaping Project. This project involves widening the footpaths to create outdoor dining and social interactive areas within the CBD, with landscaping, seating and bike racks.

Brunswick Heads has a number of exciting projects in the immediate and medium term future. Planning for the second and expanded Old and Gold Festival this June is underway.

We will continue to pull together to preserve our low key village atmosphere, welcome our visitors and explore ways to enhance our town economically, socially and environmentally.

For further information

Contact	:	Kim Rosen, Events Co-ordinator
Phone	:	02 6684 3834
Email	:	krosen@mullum.com.au

WWW

:

http://www.business.nsw.gov.au/regions.asp?cid=188