TAMWORTH will play host to hundreds of firefighters and families from across the South Pacific as they converge on the city for an international competition.

The Leader can reveal the city has been chosen to host the 2019 Australasian Firefighting Championships after a successful bid.

Retained West Tamworth firefighter Robert Eckersley made the proposal at the 2017 Championships in Carterton New Zealand at the weekend.

The good news was delivered to local crews this week.

“Tamworth Regional Council put a kit together for us and it all went really well,” Mr Eckersley said. 

“Teams are already asking where the best motels are on the ground and are already booking their accommodation.”

More: Here’s what a championship actually looks like | Photos

“We’ve got two years of hard work now ahead of us to hold the event and put on a good show.” 

Mr Eckersley said it was hoped crews interstate including Queensland and internationally from New Zealand, Fiji and the Solomon Islands would attend. 

Mayor Col Murray welcomed the news.

“It’s fantastic to be able to showcase our firefighters and this city on this sort of international scale,” he said.

“Having plenty of capacity with accommodation and flights and a very proactive firefighting sector here as well as a purpose-built competition course has certainly added to the value of the bid.”

Tamworth Business Chamber president Jye Segboer said the event would be good for business.

“Generally with an event like this, people spent about $250 per person, per day within the city whether it is across accommodation, retail, food or even hospitality services,” he said.

“The impact for the region is fantastic and the more events like this we can attract to the city, the better it is for everybody.”