The Murray River Council event has been acknowledged in the festivals and events category, which recognises leisure festivals, events and exhibitions that enhance the profile and appeal of local destinations as well as creating economic impact, increased visitation and community involvement.
The awards celebrate excellence and innovation across the state’s tourism sector, with the winners to be announced at a gala at Luna Park Sydney on February 3, 2022.
Mayor Chris Bilkey said the recognition was great for the area and testimony to the hard work of council staff, volunteers and event partners.
“The outcomes from the event have been extremely positive and beneficial to the region,” he said.
“Not only did it stimulate welcome economic activity, but it is now getting recognised at both a state and national level.”
The awards nod comes after the event took out the category for ‘Economic Development Initiatives - Regions Under 15,000 Residents’ at the Economic Development Awards for Excellence.
Running for two weeks in May, the event saw more than 15,000 tickets registered with visitation from all states and territories across Australia.
The immersive sound and light trail at Moama’s Horseshow Lagoon showcased the story of Echuca-Moama through light installations and projections, including theatrical fog, strobe and cutting-edge moving light technology.
A post-event survey that captured overnight stays, dining and shopping estimated the economic impact of Moama Lights on the Echuca-Moama region was more than $7 million.
“Moama Lights delivered an exciting opportunity to offer new experiences for locals and drive visitation to our local area, and we are so pleased that this event has once again been recognised,” Cr Bilkey said.
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