CAMPERVAN and motorhome owners are set to flock to Bingara in October, with the 2021 Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA) rally being planned for the small town.
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It's been 13 years since Bingara played host to its last rally, and organisers and the mayor alike are looking forward to the annual event.
The 35th rally will be held at the Bingara showground from October 17 to 24.
Gwydir Shire Council mayor John Coulton said the event would be great for the town off the back of drought and COVID-19.
"It's a very good thing that the CMCA people have chosen our town, Bingara, and in turn it's a lovely spot on the river," Mr Coulton said.
"Quite often they'll collect receipts purchased in town and deposit them in a box and it amounts to tens of thousands of dollars [of economic injection].
"All the crafty and dress shops are doing well and they're really looking forward to the rally because it's a concentration of people for a week or so."
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He said the event brought in a variety of people with many life experiences under their belt.
"We get to see and talk to people that have had very varied occupations, for example, one that I opened a couple of years ago, we had an ex-jet fighter pilot," he said.
"That experience exposed to our younger people in a smaller community is invaluable because it opens people's eyes to 'well I could do that'.
"They probably don't realise but their contribution is quite great to our community."
The event is expected to bring about 1800 people to the small community, and, as a result, rally manager Jo Tremain said COVID-19 precautions would be of utmost importance.
"The one thing the showground's got is plenty of room so social distancing won't be a problem," she said.
"We're going to be guided by government rules and guidelines. We're aware it all could be cancelled, it all could be changed."
After the last Bingara rally there, people bought houses there they enjoyed the area so much.
- Bingara rally manager Jo Tremain
She said rally attendees "take the chance to explore all of that area and spend their dollars".
"They've shown in figures of previous rallies, it reaches around $3 million with repeat visits for people who come back again," Ms Tremain said.
"After the last Bingara rally there, people bought houses there they enjoyed the area so much."
There's expected to be seminars, craft, entertainment, trade stalls, music games, and tours of the local area.
Local businesses wishing to get involved can attend an information session at the Roxy Theatre on February 10 to find out more.
They can register their interest to this event with Jo Tremain via bingararallymanager@gmail.com or by calling 0412 097 377.