Queensland’s Gladstone area has enjoyed an extended boom but, as the Curtis Island LNG construction phase winds down, local businesses are bracing themselves for leaner times.
As has been the case, in other areas where mining has ceased to be the cash cow it once was, local leaders are looking at new ways to bring money into the region … and more grey nomads are once again on their wish list.
The CEO of the Gladstone Area Promotion and Development Ltd, Glenn Churchill, says the announcement that P&O Cruises will stop in Gladstone from 2016, showed the range of tourism opportunities lay ahead for Gladstone.
“We need to look at the diversity of it – industrial tourism, grey nomads, friends and family tourism,” he told the Gladstone Observer.
He is not alone in believing that tourism will fill part of the gap left by LNG construction on Curtis Island.
Grant Cooper, the Director of Gladstone marketing company, Cooper McKenzie Marketing, said he believed Gladstone was on the up after “bouncing along in a subnormal situation for a few months”.
“It’s a boom and reset, not a boom and bust,” he said. “There was always going to be a finite amount of business generated by LNG on Curtis Island…there’s still work there, it’s just that people need to see the opportunity and the challenge.”
Many grey nomads have previously complained that they were not made to feel welcome in Gladstone region when the booming mining sector meant caravan park accommodation was in hot demand.
Bypassed it heading North and will do the same when we head South.
Lived in Gladstone for a couple of years. A lot of local business’s charged more if they knew you worked for the major industries. They were so arrogant so it will be interesting to see what there attitude is now.
There are a few arrogant cities and towns around our great country and I live in one. Busselton in the West. They couldn’t give 2 hoots about tourists, summer or winter. I never recommend caravan parks for visitors to stay in; I recommend powered campsites on the Holy mile.
No bouncy castles, playgrounds, just lovely beachside sites and good prices.
Now they want us back? Funny isnt it..they didnt care about the nomads while they had mine workers filling their pockets..now that cash cow has left they think we will forget the previous treatment. Dont think so Miss Jane
Booked to stay in Gladstone/Boyne Island area earlier this year, we travel with small dog. Paid 2 weeks on arrival and shown to permanents area of park, dirt site in run down part of park. Stayed one night, managed to get refund!!! Will never return to area.