The Sunshine Valley Gazette

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Hinterland Tourism hatches Weddings rescue plan

The industry, already shut down by COVID-19 restrictions, faces further hardship unless the 4m2 density rule is relaxed,

Weddings at Tiffany’s was transformed into a makeshift war room last week as a group from Hinterland Tourism created a plan to revive the beleaguered sector. 

“We’re calling on the State Government to relax the 4m2 density rule that makes it impossible to host normal weddings, even when Stage 3 of the recovery is implemented on July 10,” said Hinterland Tourism President Kerry Brown.

The group has written to the Premier seeking relaxation of a rule which limits the number of people a venue can hold to just one every 4 square metres. The letter also offers a six-point plan to deploy tracking and tracing protocols to minimise infection and contain any outbreak. 

Glass House MP Andrew Powell was to table the letter to Parliament tomorrow, Thursday May 21.

“The industry, already shut down by COVID-19 restrictions, faces further hardship unless the rule is relaxed,” said Ms Brown. 

“There is no Queensland Wedding Association. The regions have all worked independently in the past. It’s not until something like this happens that it’s even an issue. So we at Hinterland Tourism initiated it. We’re all working together on this to try and come up with a solution for the industry, state-wide. 

“This is a  $700 million industry. People from all over Queensland have been ringing us saying thanks.”

The ‘crisis committee’ includes Ms Brown, hinterland wedding expert Marlene Murray, Tiffany’s Kelly Tilse and wedding celebrant Adam Johnson.