NATIONALS Member for the South West, Colin Holt MLC is encouraging locals to get down to the action trackside as Bunbury Trotting Club gears up to host a heat of Australia’s richest harness racing event, the Inter Dominion championship.
Last year the Bunbury Trotting Club became the first provincial club to host an Inter Dominion heat in the event’s 80-year history, and thanks to support from Royalties for Regions, will now host the event for another two years. Mr Holt encouraged punters in the South-West to embrace the prestigious event and ensure it was a historic night for the Bunbury Trotting Club.
“The Inter Dominion is the equivalent of the Melbourne Cup for standard bred horses and the $1.1 million grand final prize purse makes it the richest horse race in the State this year. It’s rare that an internationally renowned sporting event comes to a regional centre, so I urge the people of the South-West to come along” Mr Holt said.
“The tourism sector in Perth and Bunbury enjoyed a $2.28 million boost as a result of last year’s event, predominantly from interstate visitors, and the overall economic contribution to the WA economy was valued at $9.5 million. These are the sorts of events that put Bunbury on the map as a key sporting and tourist location” Mr Holt said.
Regional Development Minister Terry Redman said positioning regional Western Australia as a recognised events destination was vital.
“Events like the Inter Dominion championship strengthen local tourism-related businesses and contribute to the vibrancy of regional communities,” Mr Redman said.
“Tourism has a strong influence on regional development and brings significant social and economic benefits to the regions. Royalties for Regions investment into the Regional Events Scheme is vital to see this growth continue.”
For more information, visit http://www.perthinterdominion.com.au
For media enquiries please contact Office of Colin Holt MLC on (08) 9724 1181
