The marketing and development of Port Stephens as a thriving destination would be “wiped out” by a merger of Port Stephens and Newcastle council, according to Destination Port Stephens (DPS) which has formally opposed the proposed amalgamation, with 95 per cent of DPS members also against the merger.
A letter from Destination Port Stephens Chairman Allan Ray OAM against the merger has been sent to the State MP for Port Stephens, Kate Washington, and NSW Premier Mike Baird and also tendered to the Government as formal opposition to the flagged amalgamation. The letter says DPS will strongly back Port Stephens Council’s fight against the amalgamation.
Revealing a survey of DPS members showed 95 per cent opposed the merger, Mr Ray said the amalgamation would generate no logical benefits for Port Stephens, which was a distinct and unique destination in its own right. He added the Government’s plan would severely impact Port Stephens’s vital, $400 million visitor economy, stall recent momentum in the region’s popularity and erode the area’s distinct and vibrant culture.
“Tourism businesses would also struggle to pay higher council rates under a merger and tourism projects in Port Stephens would also be superseded by bigger infrastructure projects in Newcastle so we would effectively be ignored” Mr Ray said.
“Port Stephens is made up of coastal villages with a focus on the natural environment and waterways, with a vastly different agenda and focus to that of Newcastle. A merger would compromise the healthy and successful tourism industry we have strived to achieve for a long time.”
Mr Ray said Destination Port Stephens had been in existence for more than 20 years as a not-for-profit organisation. Over this time DPS has established a strong relationship with Port Stephens Council, which is looked upon as a benchmark by other Local Government Areas (LGAs). A thriving and vibrant tourism industry has resulted generating 2.4 million visitor nights per annum and contributing more than $400 million to the local economy.”
