Pambula Sporting Complex approved to host inaugural Wanderer Festival

Bega Valley Shire has approved moving the Wanderer Festival from its previously planned location on a private property in Bournda to the Pambula Sporting Complex.

The three-day festival to be held in September this year was launched to great acclaim last month, with pre-sale tickets already sold out – and with acts including The Dandy Warhols, Curtis Harding, Ziggy Alberts and DMAs.

Organisers of the festival estimate the event will attract investment of more than $30 million to the shire—and this is expected to be an annual event.

Bega Shire Mayor Russell Fitzpatrick enthused “this is a fantastic opportunity to bring major investment and renewed interest to an otherwise quiet time for visitation in the Bega Valley Shire.

“The organisers have specifically chosen September to enliven visitor activity and spending in the tourism shoulder season.

“With a vast amount of experience in running nationally recognised festivals, we have every faith they will deliver a memorable event that benefits the whole shire.

“Other councils have approached the organisers to ask if they will run an event in their areas, but we are delighted they have chosen our neck of the woods as the Wanderer Festival home.

“This is of course because the Bega Valley Shire is their home too, and it doesn’t take much to realise this place has so much going for it in terms of landscape, community and opportunity.”

Mayor Fitzpatrick said approval to use the Pambula Sporting Complex was given on the basis the event would comply with all relevant legislative and use of public land requirements and added “as part of the Use of Public Land process, the organiser will need to provide evidence that waste, water, sewage and grounds management will be fully addressed, as well as the recommendations from the Bega Valley Local Traffic Committee that were endorsed at the Council meeting today.

“These are important requirements that place public health and safety and the maintenance of community assets as a priority.

“The organiser’s experience and environmental credentials suggest all requirements will be able to be met.

“On behalf of our local community, I welcome the Wanderer Festival to the Bega Valley Shire.”

Image credit: Bega Valley Shire Council