The Junior State Cup has really benefited our community since we first hosted the event in 2013, and it is certainly an event that many regional cities and metro suburbs would love to host.

An estimated $9 million will be injected into our economy this year, and I’m sure you would have noticed over the weekend that our hotels and other accommodation were full, restaurants and cafes buzzing, shops doing a roaring trade and our popular tourist attractions being enjoyed.

The flow on effects from major events like these are not always obvious, but are far reaching in our community.

Major events provide jobs for local residents, create a great atmosphere across the region that leads to many happy visitors going home with great stories to tell, further promoting our beautiful region.

Visitor’s from these events often come back for holidays, with some even choosing to call our region home.

I have spoken to many residents since becoming mayor, and I can tell you there are so many stories from people who had visited briefly, loved our place, and decided to stay.

With more people moving to our region, it is important that we plan for the future now so that we are prepared to cater for this expected growth in the future.

With so many projects happening, it is important that we all get on board, and let our voices be heard on our community’s future. We must continue to work together on the challenges we face today, so that we can have a prosperous future tomorrow.

I would also like to let you know I will be on leave for the next three weeks and deputy mayor Lisa Intemann will be acting as mayor during this time, on behalf of our community.