Tourism body defends use of 'Ettalong Peninsula'

Central Coast Tourism has defended referring to the Peninsula as the "Ettalong Peninsula", in its latest accommodation guide.

The organisation's chief executive Mr Horst Endrulat said that, as the area had no official name, it had "not renamed this area".

"The Woy Woy Peninsula ... is not listed as a gazetted place name either officially or unofficially," he said.

"Nor is The Peninsula."

"The area is variously known as The Peninsula, Woy Woy Peninsula and the Woy Woy-Ettalong Area, none of which are officially or unofficially gazetted," Mr Endrulat said.

"Woy Woy Peninsula has only been in use since the early 1980s.

"The local naming of both The Peninsula and Woy Woy Peninsula is a very grey area, used only by locals and actually quite confusing for visitors and tourists.

"Gosford Council itself refers to the area as The Peninsula, Woy Woy Peninsula and Peninsula, for example Peninsula Leisure Centre."

However, Woy Woy resident Ms Heather McKenzie is among those local residents who were not convinced.

She said that the area had been known as the Woy Woy Peninsula ever since Woy Woy had its own council.

Ms McKenzie drew Peninsula News' attention to the recent name change in the Central Coast Tourism Accomodation Guide.

She said the area was referred to as the Woy Woy Peninsula in the guide last year, but had changed to the Ettalong Peninsula in the current edition.

She said the original name should be retained.

Mr Endrulat said there were several issues related to the naming in the accommodation guide.

He accepted that in the past Central Coast Tourism had "occasionally" used the terms Woy Woy Peninsula and The Peninsula.

"With the Outrigger Ettalong Beach Resort, Ettalong now has a much higher profile with more visitors and tourists than it did in the past," Mr Endrulat said.

"When summarising areas, not all locations in an area have been used.

"For example, The Entrance and Wyong does not list Norah Head, Magenta or Toukley.

"The list is endless."

Mr Endrulat said that the guide used Gosford and Ettalong Peninsula as a way to summarise the area.

"If we were renaming it, we would have used Gosford and The Ettalong Peninsula, which of course we haven't."

Mr Endrulat suggested that "perhaps the residents and businesses of this area should decide on exactly what the area should be known as and have it gazetted so that there is no longer any confusion."

Lyle Stone, 11 Jan 2007