It was announced last week that the 2017 National Ballooning Championships will be held in Northam this September.
The Northam National’s Committee, which is made up of Aero Club members, business representatives and Northam Shire representatives, successfully placed a bid for funding from the Tourism WA's Regional Events Program.
Northam Aero Club president Errol Croft said participants were impressed by the way the event was held in 2015.
“The National Ballooning Association of Australia said they were very impressed by the way the event was managed,” he said.
“That was one of the reasons they wanted Northam to hold it again.” Mr Croft said the event will once again put Northam on the map as a ballooning region.
“It is such a fantastic event to have in the Avon Region,” he said. “I would like to make a point that this event would not take place if it wasn't for the support that we get from the Shire of Northam and the sponsorship that we receive.”
“The National Ballooning Association of Australia said they were very impressed by the way the event was managed,” he said. “That was one of the reasons they wanted Northam to hold it again.”
Premier and tourism minister Colin Barnett said Northam hosted a highly successful championships in 2015, which attracted 20 national and international competitors as well as 11,000 spectators to the region.
"Northam is considered one of Australia's premier hot air ballooning destinations and hit the international headlines recently as the departure point for Russian pilot Fedor Konyukhov's record-breaking solo round-the-world balloon flight," he said.
"The Northam National Ballooning Championships will not only build on this reputation and media exposure but is expected to bring thousands of visitors into the region and generate more than $1.8 million in visitor spend.”
Regional development minister Terry Redman said events such as the Northam National Ballooning Championships strengthened local tourism-related businesses and contributed to the vibrancy of regional communities.
The event will run for a week from Saturday 2 – 9 September, 2017.
The Northam Shire will be hosting the Northam Balloon Fiesta on Saturday September 2 as the official opening of the Championships.
The Fiesta will be held at the Northam Recreation Centre.
For more information head to www.northamnationals.com, which has information on viewing and following the balloons and other important details on the competition.