By Jamie Salter
The West Gippsland Progress Association (WGPA) is launching its food and tourism strategy for food operators impacted by the Bunyip Bushfire in March 2019.
Established in 2020 by a group of volunteers, WGPA aims to build a strong food tourism experience in the railway townships of Bunyip, Tynong, Garfield and Nar Nar Goon.
WGPA secretary Erin Polson said the aim of the body was to create a strong foundation for long-term planning and development in Cardinia Shire’s Bunyip Ward.
“With the recovery of the tourism industry in Australia being led by the domestic sector – we believe the time is right to formulate and market our region’s strong food-related tourism experiences and operators and capitalise on the potential day-tripper tourist market from Melbourne,“ she said.
“With our fertile farmland, innovative farm-gate and food-related businesses and our rich diversity of food culture, skills and knowledge, we are poised by 2025 to see that West Gippsland will be recognised for these experiences and local champions in regenerative agritourism.“
The strategy has been launched in partnership with the Cardinia Shire Council as well as the Victorian State Government.
Ms Polson said the strategy would help more than 20 restaurants, cafes and retail outlets to recover from the impacts of Covid-19 thanks to a new West Gippsland Food Touring Map and PR campaign.
The strategy launch event was held at Cannibal Creek Vineyard on Thursday 5 May.
Owner Kirsten Hardiker said she was excited to see a group advocating for the area she loves.
“We had the fires a couple hundred metres to the north of us and at our eastern boundary, so it was a very scary time but luckily for us we were safe,“ she said.
“After the fires it really highlighted the need for a tourism strategy.“
For more information on the West Gippsland Food and Tourism Strategy, visit westgippslandprogassoc.org.au/
On The Land, pages 62-63.
