Council funds Ettalong marketing plan

Gosford Council has allocated $3000 to the Ettalong Beach Business Group to undertake a marketing plan to assist with revitalising the town centre.

The group is a new non-profit association looking to promote and co-ordinate business activity in the Ettalong Beach commercial district.

According to a council staff report, the funding will be used to prepare a town marketing plan aimed at improving commerce in Ettalong Beach.

The council report stated: "Business operators and property owners in the Ettalong Beach commercial centre have been discussing the need to revitalise the centre and considering ways to co-ordinate a range of activities that will contribute to this.

"The marketing plan will aim to make Ettalong Beach a more attractive place to visit and shop for local residents, day trippers and for tourists.

"The group has good support from the local business community, as evidenced by attendance and discussion at several meetings it has organised."

The council also acknowledged in its report, research conducted by the University of Newcastle after completion of the Mantra Resort at Ettalong Beach which sought to measure the impact of the new resort on the local business community.

The council report stated: "The research conducted by the University of Newcastle found that while many local businesses had benefited from the resort's establishment, significant pockets of businesses had seen no benefit at all.

"This is an appropriate project to be funded because it will directly contribute to business and tourist development in Ettalong Beach."

Peninsula Chamber of Commerce President Mr Matthew Wales said it welcomed anybody who wanted to improve business on the Peninsula.

"We think the establishment of the business group is a positive thing for the Peninsula and we do not have any problem with anybody wanting to benefit the local community," Mr Wales said.

"It can only be beneficial for the community to have more people working on improving business on the Peninsula."

Financial support was made available to the group within the council's special project allocation of tourism/business development special rate funds.

Council provided just under 40 per cent of the total cost of the marketing plan.

Council's allocation of funding is subject to the remaining $4623 required for the marketing plan being secured through the local business community and through the Department of State and Regional Development.

The council report stated: "The proposed marketing plan will deliver a set of practical actions that will improve the commercial operation of Ettalong Beach."

Council agenda, ENV.18, 4 Mar 2008