Spence said suitable measures will also apply when the championships are held, with V8 Supercars Australia required to develop a traffic management plan for the duration of the event.
“It is estimated that the event will generate $10m a year in economic benefits for the Townsville region, with 130 full-time equivalent jobs created during construction," she reasoned, “A further 180 full-time equivalent jobs will be created as a result of staging the three-day event each year. Up to 70,000 people are expected to visit the city for the annual event, showcasing North Queensland to a massive audience, as the V8 Supercar Championship is the third most watched sport in Australia, behind cricket and the Australian Football League. In 2007 alone, almost 22 million Australian viewers tuned in to watch the V8 Supercar Championship Series.
“The series also attracts a potential international audience of up to 850 million viewers across 130 countries. This kind of coverage presents us with a great opportunity to promote Townsville as a tourism destination around the world. In this way, local accommodation and business operators that service the tourism industry will reap the benefits of this event all year round.”
