THE Foundation Day long weekend is proving to be a huge money-spinner for the local economy.
And it’s not just Albany which is benefitting.
High demand for accommodation in the city created by several sporting events meant many visitors looked further afield, booking hotel rooms and eating out in Mt Barker and Denmark.
Albany Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Graham Harvey said the combination of the 2009 Albany Weekender Classic and the Albany Surf Life Saving Club’s (ASLSC) Surf Craft Challenge on Sunday ceated a multi-million-dollar boost.
“After consulting with Ray Hammond, director of Albany Inbound at Albany Visitor Centre, we believe the two events attracted between 2,500 and 3,000 visitors to the city for the long weekend,” Mr Harvey said.
“When you take into account petrol, meals and accommodation, I estimate the average spend per person would have been in the region of $1,000.
“So the actual return to Albany would be somewhere in between $2 million and $3 million for the three days.”
Visitor William Wilson from Perth said he’d spent around $300 in local shops.
“If you include accommodation and petrol it would be more in the region of $600, but that’s if you can get accommodation. It’s very tight at the moment,” Mr Wilson said.
Another Perth resident, Ross Stevens, said his trip south had cost him substantially more.
“I’ve been down here since Friday with my family. By the time we fill the car up on Monday afternoon, I fully expect to have parted with $2,000,” Mr Stevens said.
Dome Café proprietor Trevor Cosh said his business was up on last year’s event.
“It’s been a very positive weekend and stronger than previous years,” Mr Cosh said.
On Sunday morning a record number of 42 skis, 16 surfboats and a handful of board paddlers competed in the ASLSC’s seventh Surf Craft Challenge.
“The club was just bowled over by the response,” ASLSC president Rob Lucas said.
“Entries have trebled since last year, which has really amazed us. We were expecting a slow growth, but it’s really taken off.
“It was also a great fundraiser for the club and we estimate it brought around 500 people into town.
“Everyone who came down had a great time and have all promised to come back next year.”
The Albany Weekender Classic again proved a great attraction, with a large crowd of visitors and locals crammed into the CBD for the event.
Despite delays caused by rain, a multi-car crash in the first event and health emergencies among spectators, 18 of the scheduled 25 events took place.
The early problems were quickly forgotten as the roads dried and the cars continued their around-the-houses time trials.
Vintage Sports Car Club past-president Ed Farrar praised local organisers and the many volunteers who constructed the “racetrack” on the city’s streets.
“The set-up of the track was brilliant,” he said. “It was stunning.
“We will definitely be coming back to Albany.”
Mr Farrar thanked the crowd for its patience after the three-car crash in the first event at the chicane on Peels Place.
“The course ambulance was called out three times to handle emergencies in the crowd,” he said.
“This was very unusual.”
Mr Farrar said the unique annual event was important for VSCC members and car lovers.
The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) State manager Adam Willis was impressed on his first visit to Albany.
“This is a unique and amazing event and historically important,” he said. “I hope it continues well into the future.”
Albany Mayor Milton Evans also praised local volunteers.
“Without the volunteers this just wouldn’t happen,” he said.
“The streets are returned to normal with the minimum of fuss.”
Mr Evans said the 73rd around-the-houses was now an important event for Albany.
Email a friend
Favourites
Del.icio.us
Facebook
Digg
StumbleUpon
MySpace
Reddit
Newsvine
LinkedIn
Kwoff
Twitter