Labor Lyons MP Jen Butler has congratulated her home town St Helens on securing one of the country’s biggest music events in a significant cultural and economic coup for the East Coast.

Ms Butler said she was thrilled Triple J’s One Night Stand concert would be held in St Helens on September 1 considering the boost the event had given to towns where it has been staged in the past, including Mt Isa in Queensland and Geraldton in Western Australia.

“With the East Coast so reliant on tourism and tourist dollars, this is a significant coup for my home town,” Ms Butler said.
“I understand that as of this morning – after Triple J made the announcement – there has been a rush on accommodation in the region and that’s great news for the local industry.

“You can’t underestimate the value of an event like this for St Helens on both a local and national scale, giving a boost to local business and providing nation-wide exposure for the region.

“I know that the most recent event in Mt Isa last year was estimated by the local council to have given the town a $3 million boost in terms of the sheer numbers of people who travelled north to take part.

“With acts like Vance Joy, Peking Duk and Middle Kids in this year’s line up, local business can look forward to a boom.

“In that regard, local resident Kristi Chapple deserves a huge congratulations for making an official submission to Triple J to help put St Helens on the national music map.”