Easy wins

By positioning Esperance as ‘pro-event’ through making Esperance an easy destination to host events, and by ensuring critical information and services are available for event managers, the town has a better chance of attracting events and event managers who can alleviate the burden of all events being run by local volunteers, community groups or the Shire itself.

1. Develop a suite of event support documentation which is helpful for event holders in the region

a. Create streamlined ways for food vendors to pop up at events, and for established/registered food businesses from outside the region to visit and temporarily trade/ offer services. Feedback from several vendors showed there were some barriers to food stalls being able to temporarily trade in Esperance, which is a deterrent for visiting chefs and caterers.

b. Create an inventory list or directory of service providers and hire products that support the event industry, such as toilet hire, fencing, printers and photographers. By creating this list, it may also show the gaps in offering which local businesses may be able to fill. Alternatively, it shows the Shire where investment may need to be made to support events.

c. Create a list of venues and event spaces currently available for use, including contacts, capacities and restrictions/limitations. This aids event managers and MICE organisers with understanding the town’s capacity to host. Like with the inventory list above, this will uncover any gaps and can guide future investment.

3. Provide a support mechanism and toolkit for Shire-supported events

There is a suite of useful information that can be provided to event managers which will assist in spreading the messaging and critical information about events and help promote Esperance as ‘pro-event’. For example: j. Ways for event holders to incorporate indigenous content into festivals, including contacts for traditional owners, how to make an acknowledgement of country, who to employ to undertake a welcome to country, and ways to tie in important information from the indigenous community, such as animals to look out for depending on which season the event takes place in, as well as critical information for guests on the threat of dieback. k. Create a simple ‘How to Work With Us’ document from the Shire which outlines requirements of event holders, key contacts in the health, planning and parks teams, social media handles, the ways the Shire can help with planning, etc. l. Create an events marketing checklist, which is distributed to all event holders with free and low-cost marketing opportunities to help spread information about each event. During interviews, it became evident that there were a lot of community events being held, but they were unknown outside of the town (and sometimes even the locals didn’t know about them, which was evidenced by each survey participant sharing different events to those previously mentioned).

2. Shire to

Consider Concessions And Support Packages For Event Holders

There are several ways the Esperance Shire can support shirefunded events, which are used in other Local Governments across WA. For example: d. Free bins for events e. Cleaners to support pack down of events, or extra cleans during events f. Parks teams ready to help with lawn mowing or extra maintenance before events proceed g. Waiving application fees and permit fees h. Support with traffic management i. Providing access to event products like fencing, toilets and other products that the Shire already has

4. Audit and expand the Shire’s marketing channels to support event marketing opportunities

The Shire can become a one stop shop for marketing of the region’s events and opportunities. The Shire’s Instagram and Facebook accounts, for example, have plenty of useful information for locals, but could also be expanded to include events that would be of interest to the community. Other ways the Shire can support the promotion of events include: m. Ensure Event Organisers know how to get their event loaded into the Visit Esperance What’s On calendar and how to get listed in the Community e-Newsletter n. Airport Signage - Create an advertising opportunities flyer for spaces available at the Esperance Airport. Promote via Shire website and social media.