MACCAT President Don Smith said that master planning for the National Landscapes program would commence shortly following the appointment of a planning team. Don said he and MACCAT Secretary Bary Harrison travelled to Mallacoota this week for the latest steering committee meeting that was hosted by the Mallcoota Business & Tourism Assoc.  Representatives from East Gippsland Tourism, Parks Victoria, Dept of Sustainability Victoria, Parks NSW, Sapphire Coast Tourism, Bombala Shire, Bega Valley Shire Council, Bega Valley Business Forum & MACCAT attended the meeting.  Mr Smith said that our area, Australia's Coastal Wilderness was now drawing huge interest from eco tourism operators across the country keen to get involved in this exciting program.  Don said MACCAT was a committed partner to the Steering Committee and he thanked out going BVSC Committee member Fraser Buchanan who had done alot of work for the Committee.  

Interested members are asked to attend this meeting

The National Landscapes Program is a prestigious tourism project initiated by Tourism Australia and Parks Australia and managed by a Reference Committee. It is a partnership between tourism and conservation that aims to identify Australia's 15-20 superlative experiences for national and international marketing under the Brand Australia program to Tourism Australia's international target market - the Experience Seekers.

The Red Centre is the first National Landscape. Other candidates well engaged in the Program include the Australian Alps, Flinders Ranges, the Great Ocean Road, the Kakadu region and the South East Coastal Wilderness.A National Landscape is not defined by physical, government or land ownership boundaries, but by the experiences it can provide to Tourism Australia's target market.

Tourism Australia will promote recognised National Landscapes through national and international marketing and promotions. 

Below are details about the upcoming Stakeholder Meeting and Steering Committee Meeting in Merimbula to progress the candidacy.

Thursday 29 November 2007

Venue: Black Dolphin Motel, Arthur Kaine Drive, Merimbula
10.00 am             Stakeholder Meeting 
1.00 pm              Lunch
1.30                    Steering Committee Meeting & Workshop
5.00                    Close
RSVP                    By COB Monday 26 November
                                Pauline Hitchins, M. 0419 099 968  E. egrbta@telstra.com <mailto:egrbta@telstra.com>
                        Geoff Brookes, P. 02 6492 3944  E. scbec@sertec.com.au <mailto:scbec@sertec.com.au>

Download the following documents here: Invitation
                                                          Brochure
                                                          Experience doc.