Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group
Meeting Date: Wednesday, 24 March, 2021
Location: Email Meeting
Time:
Please note: Council’s Code of Meeting Practice permits the electronic recording and broadcast of the proceedings of meetings of the Council which are open to the public. Your attendance at this meeting is taken as consent to the possibility that your image and/or voice may be recorded and broadcast to the public.
Agenda
1. Apologies
2. Confirmation of Minutes
· Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group - 15 February 2021.......................................... 1
3. Reports
TA21.10....... Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group - Extension of Membership............... 6
4. General Business
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Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group – Wednesday 24 March 2021 Page |
Membership
Mr Rob Crow - Chairperson
Mr Mark Thirlwall – Deputy Chairperson
All Councillors (Clr Gash & Clr Kitchener – voting delegates – Clr Alldrick & Clr Watson – alternate voting delegates)
Mr David Goodman (Chairperson - Shoalhaven Sports Board)
Mr Neil Rodgers
Ms Brenda Sambrook
Dr James Lin
Ms Kylie Pickett
Ms Juliet Barr
Mr David Duffy – NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service representative
Mr Mat Lock
Mr David Fleeting
Quorum – 7
Role and Purpose
· Inform the development, implementation and review of council priorities from the Shoalhaven Tourism Master Plan and councils corporate plan
· Represent the tourism industry and advise and make recommendations to Council on matters relating to tourism, the development of tourism and the future of tourism in the Shoalhaven.
· Promote the direct and in-direct value and benefits of tourism within the Shoalhaven and on a regional, state and national basis.
Delegated Authority
· Make recommendation on the expenditure of the annual Shoalhaven marketing budget as provided by Council.
· Appoint suitable representatives to fill casual vacancies
· Inform and recommend policy for tourism related funding programs, and where required by Council, vote on related matters.
Minutes of the Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group
Meeting Date: Monday, 15 February 2021
Location: Council Chambers / Microsoft Teams
Time: 5.05pm
The following members were present:
Mr Robert Crow - Chairperson
Mr David Goodman
Mr Neil Rodgers – (Remotely)
Mr David Duffy – (Remotely)
Ms Brenda Sambrook – (Remotely)
Ms Juliet Barr
Mr Mat Lock – (Remotely)
Mr Mark Thirlwall – (Remotely)
Mr David Fleeting
Others present:
Coralie Bell – Section Manage - Tourism
Joe Puglisi – Visitors Services Manager
Demi McGregor – Digital Marketing Assistant
Greg Winchester – Event Liaison Officer
Apologies / Leave of Absence |
An apology was received from Clr White.
Confirmation of the Minutes |
RESOLVED (David Goodman / Brenda Sambrook)
That the Minutes of the Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group held on Monday 26 October 2020 be confirmed.
CARRIED
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Declarations of Interest |
Nil
Reports
TA21.1 Tourism Manager Update |
HPERM Ref: D21/9697 |
Coralie Bell – Section Manager Tourism addressed the meeting and advised that there were no exceptions to the report. The members were advised that recruitment for the Tourism Events & Investment Specialist Shannan’s role is underway.
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Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority) That the Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group receive the Tourism Manager’s Report for information.
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RESOLVED (David Goodman / David Fleeting) That the Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group receive the Tourism Manager’s Report for information. CARRIED
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TA21.2 Destination Marketing |
HPERM Ref: D21/4645 |
Demi McGregor – Digital Marketing Assistant addressed the meeting and advised that there were no exceptions to the report and highlighted the following pages in the report: · Page 17 – Users of the website · Page 26 – Quarterly Overview
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Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority) That the Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group receive the Destination Marketing Report for information.
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RESOLVED (Juliet Barr / David Goodman) That the Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group receive the Destination Marketing Report for information. CARRIED
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TA21.3 Events Report |
HPERM Ref: D21/6639 |
Coralie Bell addressed the meeting and advised there were no exceptions to the report and highlighted that Greg Winchester is working in an ever changing environment due to changing restrictions by NSW Health.
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Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority) That the Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group receive the events report for information.
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RESOLVED (Juliet Barr / David Goodman) That the Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group receive the events report for information. CARRIED
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TA21.4 Visitor Services Update |
HPERM Ref: D21/5152 |
Joe Puglisi – Visitors Services Manager addressed the meeting and advised that there are no exceptions to the report and highlighted the following: · The comment from local providers is that it’s one of their best summers ever. · Feedback from local operators and people is that they are friendly locals and helpful. · Starting to sell tickets for SEC events from May 2020 |
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Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority) That the Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group receive the Visitor Services Report for information.
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RESOLVED (David Fleeting / Brenda Sambrook) That the Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group receive the Visitor Services Report for information. CARRIED
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TA21.5 Chair's Report |
HPERM Ref: D21/26997 |
The Chairperson advised there were no exceptions to the report and thanked all the members and staff for maintaining the commitment to convene meetings going forward. |
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Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority) That the Group receive the Chair’s Report for information.
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RESOLVED (Brenda Sambrook / David Fleeting) That the Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group receive the Chair’s Report for information. CARRIED
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TA21.6 River Festival Update |
HPERM Ref: D21/21579 |
David Fleeting addressed the meeting and advised that as the event was cancelled last year, it has been difficult to keep the momentum going. The Committee is still thinking to aim for October this year, and there are a number of things that will need to take place for this to happen. Trying to keep the event going regardless will be a challenge as will be how well it can occur even if it is a restricted event to a Region only event. The River Festival Committee will develop a plan and report back to a future STAG Meeting. At the last meeting, securing a briefing from the contractors of the Nowra Bridge project was raised. Fulton Hogan and Transport NSW have advised they are happy to provide a briefing.
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Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority) That the Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group receive the Shoalhaven River Festival Committee report for information.
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RESOLVED (Brenda Sambrook / David Duffy) That the Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group receive the Shoalhaven River Festival Committee report for information. CARRIED
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General Business
TA21.7 Councillors Update |
HPERM Ref: D21/21509 |
An update will be provided at the next meeting.
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TA21.8 Industry Feedback |
HPERM Ref: D21/21526 |
The members held a discussion, and the following points were raised: · Communication – Working Groups o Coralie advised that she is happy for the Working Groups to meet outside STAG meetings. · With snap Border closures, what can we do to further reach NSW to shop Shoalhaven? · Small walks brochure deserves visibility and more exposure. · What’s happening at the Arts Centre and Gallery · Staff will touch base with Silo’s regarding the impact of the Roadworks and their plan going forward.
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TA21.9 Sports Board Update |
HPERM Ref: D21/21531 |
David Goodman advised that there was an event last week in the Shoalhaven, “Best Week of Golf”, held at Worrigee, St Georges Basin, Shoalhaven Heads and Nowra. In attendance were 120 competitors from other parts of NSW. It was a success and will be back next year. In April another big competition will take place for seniors and ladies over a 3 day event with approximately 200 golfers.
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There being no further business, the meeting concluded, the time being 6.54pm.
Mr Robert Crow
CHAIRPERSON
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Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group – Wednesday 24 March 2021 Page 0 |
TA21.10 Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group - Extension of Membership
HPERM Ref: D21/100240
Department: Tourism
Approver: Robert Domm, Director - City Futures
Attachments: 1. STAG Terms of Reference ⇩
Reason for Report
That the Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group request that Council: 1. Endorse the recommendation to extend current memberships for the Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group 2. Extend the following members to October 2021: a. James Lin b. Brenda Sambrook c. Juliet Barr 3. Extend the following members to October 2022: a. Rob Crow b. Mat Lock c. Mark Thirwall d. David Fleeting e. Neil Rogers 4. Formally acknowledge the resignation of Kylie Pickett and thank Kylie for her service and commitment as a member of the Shoalhaven Advisory Group. 5. Move the upcoming STAG meeting on 19 April 2021 to 10 May 2021 to allow time for confirmation of new memberships via Council’s Ordinary meeting.
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Options
Implications: Approving this recommendation will provide STAG with a continuity of experienced industry-based representatives in line with the Terms of Reference.
2. Formally thank all STAG members who have retired and recruit nine (9) new members.
Implications: Recruiting three (3) new members will potentially result in risks such as lack of continuity and not having a quorum in the next upcoming meeting. Should a new Council be elected in September this year, they may decide to restructure the committee and new recruitment to occur.
Background
Membership for the Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group (STAG) consists of a maximum of nine (9) industry members, with a quorum of five (5). Membership is for two (2) years and is staggered between two groups of members as to always keep quorum and continuity.
The expiration of Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory (STAG) members was missed due to Bushfires and COVID-19 resulting in the cancellations of numerous 2020 meetings. In order to continue the function of the Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group (STAG) memberships must be resolved by Council.
With the Local Government elections this year, and new Council representatives appointed in September, recruiting new Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group (STAG) members before then is not preferable as a new Council may decide to make changes to committees. In an uncertain and changing tourism climate, an experienced industry group is important to guide Council and industry through this time and help to sustain jobs and economic growth.
STAG Membership
In accordance with the Terms of Reference of the Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group, the following members had their memberships resolved at Council’s Ordinary Meeting on 27 March 2018. Their membership expired in March 2020.
· James Lin
· Kylie Pickett
· Brenda Sambrook
· Juliet Barr
The following members had their memberships resolved at Council’s Ordinary meeting on 25 March 2019 and their memberships are due to expire on 25 March 2021.
· Rob Crowe (Chair)
· Mat Lock
· Mark Thirwall (Deputy Chair)
· David Fleeting
· Neil Rodgers
The Chairman and the Deputy Chair are also overdue for annual renewal. Shoalhaven Tourism recommend these two positions to be extended another eighteen (18) months, this can be decided by the group at the next meeting.
Next Steps
Endorse the recommendation
Council to endorse the recommendation or alternate option and advise the Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group (STAG) of the extension of membership or recruitment of new members. Council staff have spoken to existing members separately who have advised verbally they are happy to continue their positions on the industry group.
STAG to appoint a new Chair and Deputy Chair
Once memberships are confirmed Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group (STAG) will appoint a new Chair and Deputy Chair at the next meeting.
Resignation
Formally acknowledge Kylie Pickett’s resignation and thank Kylie for her service and commitment to being a member of the Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group.
Recruitment
Should the recommendation be endorsed by STAG and Council, Shoalhaven Tourism will be calling for nominations for one (1) vacancy on the Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group. The position will be advertised and will be promoted in the Shoalhaven Tourism Newsletter.
STAG meeting date
Should the recommendation be endorsed by STAG, a report will be submitted to Council’s Ordinary meeting on 27 April 2021. Should Council endorse the recommendation, the STAG new extended memberships will come into effect as of 27 April 2021. In the interests of members’ voting rights and to ensure a quorum, Shoalhaven Tourism recommend the upcoming STAG meeting on 19 April 2021 to be postponed to 10 May 2021.
Risk Implications
Following a difficult 2020 for the Shoalhaven tourism industry, guidance from an experienced industry group is important. Extension of current memberships allows for that stability and guidance to continue and for the existing Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group (STAG) members to serve their full term after a number of cancelled meetings when their activity was on hold due to COVID.
If half or more of the members resign, the process of re-recruiting members will result in the lack of a quorum for upcoming meetings and new members could then be subject to more change when the new Council is assembled in September, resulting in unnecessary disruption of the industry group. Re-recruiting some or all new members of STAG may result in a lack of continuity and leadership for the tourism industry of which local tourism operators have already been through many disruptions and hardships.