Eurobodalla Tourism
What will sell your town to tourists? Send us your South East pic's.
02/12/2009 , 9:10 AM by Ian Campbell
If you were to design a holiday brochure for your part of the South East what photo's would you include to attract holiday makers?
What are the selling points of your patch?
I would love to see your local pic's, send them to southeastnsw@your.abc.net.au and well post them to the website for all to enjoy.
This morning over breakfast we chatted to the Manager of Eurobodalla Tourism John Pugsley, who has just finished the 2010 Eurobodalla holiday planner.
110 000 copies are now on the street, tempting families to take a Eurobodalla holiday, so what did John include in his brochure to attract holiday makers.
ISN’T THIS WHAT THE COUNCIL DO ANYWAY?
The proposed levies to be imposed on residents, of which $120K pa increasing by 17% pa over 5 years for Economic Development, states that funds are to be used for such items traffic management studies, CBD master plans, development of economic strategies, car parking, town signage and gateways etc. Isn’t that the reason we already pay our rates to local council and isn’t this what their planning departments are supposed to do anyway?
If the Council wants to railroad this levy on to the long-suffering ratepayer, what staff efficiencies and/or productivity gains have been identified by the council that could offset this cost, and therefore provide a zero-sum solution which would be considered more equitable? Why for example, do BVSC continue to purchase plant and equipment when sub-contracting with adequate supervision provides a more cost-effective method?
Additionally the council wants to impose Sapphire Coast Tourism’s view of the world on the residential ratepayer’s bill at an ongoing initial cost of $230,000 pa. SCT has been involved in many “turf wars” since its inception with other tourism promotional bodies and has caused considerable discontent and ire within the industry. Why has SCT been foisted on the community at the behest of the Bega Business Forum and then subsequently recognised by BVSC as an appropriate organisation, to promote tourism? Residential ratepayers are asked to contribute funding to SCT, but cannot become members and are therefore unable to comment on the way it is spending the ratepayer’s money or indeed its management or direction.
These levies have been forecasted for the next 5 years. What happens then? Do the ratepayers still have to pay these levies? At the current capped rate of 3.5%, $800,000 pa will compound to $950,150+ pa.
BVSC likes to take credit and bask in the acclaim by drawing the community’s attention to projects to be implemented under their jurisdiction. However in reality a considerable number, if not most of these listed projects, are actually totally funded by Federal Government. It should clearly say so.
The Deferred Benefit Superannuation Scheme was briefly alluded to by the BVSC General Manager is his presentation of the Draft Management Plan. It was rather hastily explained that the shortfall in the scheme funding of some $1.0M pa to fund “the gap”, has been referred to the Local Government Association for action and is currently deferred. “Deferred” means postponed. Is this a cost that will be subsequently borne by the ratepayer at a later date? When the council was queried last year on this matter, it was stated by the Mayor and staff that there were 63 staff members currently on this scheme and numbers would reduce in the following years. It has been publicly stated recently by a Councillor that there are now 68 staff members still on this generous super scheme. Are the BVSC financial staff telling the councillors the true facts and figures, or are the councillors unintentionally misleading the public on the true details of this explosive issue and probable financial millstone to ratepayers?
BVSC should perhaps remind themselves on a regular basis that they are public servants charged with delivering decent services at minimal cost. Rates collected are our money and we want it spent wisely.
Although submissions to council have closed, you are still able and are urged, to voice your opinion on the rate increases and levies to the NSW Minister Barbara Perry via: office@perry.minister.nsw.gov.au. She makes the decision.
Merimbula Area Ratepayers Group
Geoff Jones
John Tait