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At the end of a long working day, Rockhampton Region Councillor Drew Wickerson loves to swap his councillor badge for a rolling pin and mixing bowl.
Over the past five years the mixmaster has created an impressive array of cakes for various council and community events, from live action cakes blowing smoke for the Singapore Army, to immaculately detailed replica cakes for iconic buildings like the former Morning Bulletin site and Rockhampton Girls Grammar, to a massive display piece of Harry Potter and a sugar inspired cake for Willy Wonka. A scrumptious Willy Wonka cake by Drew Wickerson.
The volunteers of the Rockhampton Heritage Village are busy preparing the grounds for a grand re-opening to the public in the coming weeks.
The iconic facility has been closed since March 2020 following COVID-19 restrictions and Rockhampton Regional Council moved to close it temporarily to conduct a business case.
The initial works, with a budget of $385,000, will include car park upgrades, new signage, entrance improvements and fencing and visual screening at the back of house.
Councillor for Communities Drew Wickerson said they were looking at getting a digital sign so they can change messaging quickly.
“Obviously we know it is here but from the highway, its hidden behind the trees, the signage could be upgraded,” he said.
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Subscriber only New signage, entrance upgrades and a carpark tidy-up are part of initial plans to bring the Rockhampton Heritage Village back up to scratch. The venue was closed to the public in response to coronavirus restrictions in March 2020. At the time, then-mayor Margaret Strelow said there was a need for change due to the lack of international visitors, fewer southern visitors, disruptive roadworks outside, declining visitor numbers and difficulty completing a COVID Safe Plan for multiple dwellings. The report stated that in 2018-19 the Heritage Village had 41,313 visitors. Volunteers riding the horse and carriage at the Rockhampton Heritage Village. Photo Allan Reinikka / The Morning Bulletin