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Rockhampton friendliest town

Rockhampton has taken out the Tourism Queensland Friendliest Town Award at the Ergon Energy Tidy Towns 2006 State Awards. Held in August, the awards are run by Keep Australia Beautiful Queensland.

Rockhampton City Council CEO, Gary Stevenson, said the Award recognises the importance of visitor hospitality and safety, and instructive and easily understood information facilities throughout the town.

"Particular mention was made of the Rockhampton Tourist and Business Information Centre, the Capricorn Spire and dedicated volunteers," he said. "This Award is a compliment to their commitment, dedication and high quality service to the community and tourists."

Rockhampton Mayor, Councillor Margaret Strelow, said of all the awards, this one truly reflects the Rockhampton community.

"It tells the world what we have always known about our community - that our people are our treasure," she said.

The Friendliest Town Award is based on outstanding commitment to, and active promotion of, visitor friendliness. It includes the following criteria:

• adequate, well placed directional signage for parking, amenities, information services and tourist attractions
• provision of multi lingual signage, and/or universal symbols for non readers and non English readers
• appropriate access to and from public facilities and local attractions for the disabled and older people
• provision of visitor and tourist facilities, including toilets, picnic areas, barbecues, shaded playgrounds and car parks
• tidy, well presented community, including care and maintenance of footpaths, median strips and parks, residential and industrial areas.

Other finalists in this category were Croydon and Redcliffe.

As a result of the Award, two significant billboards will promote Rockhampton as a 'hospitabull' community over the next 12 months.

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