Big Australia Day planned

Sunday, January 26 will be a big day in Docklands, with the state government planning a major Australia Day event here.

The first details of the event were outlined by Docklands Chamber of Commerce president Joh Maxwell on November 20.

Mrs Maxwell said the Department of Premier and Cabinet was adopting a licensed approach from Queensland, called Great Australian Bites, which had brought successful events to Airlie Beach, Charters Towers, Longreach, Rockhampton and Brisbane.

She encouraged local businesses to get involved as some 20,000 to 25,000 people were expected to attend.

“We’ve got a great waterside setting. There’ll be music. There’ll be roving entertainment. Businesses will enjoy a full program and it will culminate in fireworks at 9 o’clock,” Mrs Maxwell said.

She said marketing expenses were being paid by the government, so chamber members had a great opportunity.

“We will need our members to register and to put forward their offering and agree to stay open,” she said.