Page 3133 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 24 September 2014
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As a result of Floriade, visitors stay at Canberra’s hotels and other accommodation, they dine out, they take tours and visit other tourist attractions, all of which have a direct contribution to our local tourism industry. Last year’s event attracted just short of 450,000 visitors through the gates, which was the second largest attendance in the history of the event. We are heading into, I think, the bigger part of the Floriade program which is coming up—we have two long weekends coming—so Floriade is on track for a significant attendance in 2014.
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge that it does take a large number of people to make this event occur each year. I would like to take the opportunity today to thank everyone involved and to make a particular mention of Neal Guthrie whose last day with Events ACT was the opening day of Floriade 2014. Neal has made an enormous contribution to Floriade and the ACT government over 12 years. He will be missed but we wish him all the very best in future.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: Minister, could you tell the Assembly about the Floriade NightFest program which you mentioned starts tonight?
MR BARR: The NightFest starts tonight and runs through until Sunday. It features a range of amazing light shows. We have guest comedians, roving entertainment and night markets. The light shows include the rhododendron garden, which will be transformed by ambient smoke and 50 giant illuminated flowers. The media preview last night, I understand, has people very excited about this exhibition. It will be a great opportunity to showcase light and the park in the dark.
There will be a floral globe glowing surreally in dark blue under UV strips, and a collection of giant water lilies floating on the star-lit Nerang pool. There is an automotive garden that has real traffic lights and street lights, along with a soundtrack accompanying a light show with revving engines and the like. There is a sports ball garden bed featuring stadium lighting where visitors will be able to jump on a specially designed pad to power the lights; the more people jump, the brighter they get.
Along with the light shows, the Moonlight Lounge will host a line-up of comedy and local DJs, headlined by Luke McGregor, who is performing until Friday, and Tom Gleeson, who is performing on the weekend. I think I can say confidently that the comedy that will be available at NightFest over the next five nights will far exceed everything we have experienced in question time today, particularly from the Leader of the Opposition.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Dr Bourke.
DR BOURKE: Could the minister please update the Assembly on Floriade’s charity partners and how they are using experiences and events to raise awareness of their important causes?
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