Councillor Column - Portfolio Update - Cr Mathews

"Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks to the local community for electing me as your Councillor.

I am very excited and honoured to be taking on the portfolio of ‘Tourism’. I know from first-hand experience the value of tourism to small businesses in our community.

Accommodation providers, tourist attractions and tour operators all benefit from tourism expenditure. There’s also a flow-on effect to the broader community which includes retail, service providers and ‘mum-and-dad’ corner stores.

Earlier this year, Council began planning for its first dedicated Destination Management Plan (DMP) for tourism. Prior to being elected, I attended the DMP workshop knowing this opportunity was of great importance to our Region.

Since then participants of those workshops have been provided with additional follow up surveys to further articulate their needs and wants for the industry.

The feedback is now being collated and will be presented to Council for endorsement, early in the new financial year.

In the meantime, I can assure you Council is focused on getting our tourism industry back on its feet, post COVID-19.

It’s pleasing to see restrictions are being eased so that local businesses and Council facilities can reopen.

Finally, I’d like to acknowledge Cr Sonia Bennetto’s support, who previously oversaw the tourism portfolio, and now is tackling Economic Development. I look forward to working with Cr Bennetto on a range of projects, especially development projects that can propel our tourism industry forward." 

- Councillor Julie Mathews

OGG 15 May 2020