Minister predicts tourism take-off

Tourism in the Illawarra region of NSW is set to take off in the next 12 months, with four new hotels opening and the State Government calling for expressions of interest in redeveloping Wollongong’s historic boat harbour as a tourism precinct, NSW Tourism Minister Matt Brown said yesterday.

Mr Brown told a Property Council Tourism Investment Forum in Wollongong and the Illawarra region that investment in tourist infrastructure, attractions and accommodation would see the region realise its huge potential as a tourism destination.

“Illawarra is well-prepared to meet the expected increased demand in tourism with four new hotels opening in the next 12 months,” Mr Brown said.

New hotels include the just opened Grand Mercure Kiama Blue with 72 rooms, and three new tourist accommodation facilities currently under construction in Wollongong and due to open in 2008 – a Medina Apartments complex, a resort hotel at City Beach and a Best Western hotel delivering more than 300 additional rooms and apartments.

And Accor NSW general manager Mark Ronfeldt, whose company operates the Grand Mercure at Kiama as well as Wollongong’s two biggest hotels, the Novotel Northbeach and the Ibis Wollongong, promised further investment.

“We have the three largest hotels in the Illawarra and we don’t want to stop there,” Mr Ronfeldt said. “There are wonderful tourism (investment) opportunities in the Illawarra.”

The Toursim Minister agreed. “Illawarra’s tourism’s future is bright, with a number or projects in the pipeline including the Wollongong Harbour re-development and the Blue Mile project to re-develop the city’s foreshore and tourism facilities,” Mr Brown said.

He was joined in Wollongong by NSW Lands Minister Tony Kelly, who announced expressions of interest from companies interested in re-developing the historic harbour and foreshore would close on 22 February next year.

The historic convict-built harbour is home to Wollongong’s commercial fishing fleet and an anchorage for the city’s recreational fleet, and Mr Kelly said there were exciting opportunities from private investors to lease land and invest in tourism development.

The harbour project is part of the planned $30 million Blue Mile re-development of the Wollongong foreshore that is an integral part of the Revitalising Wollongong city centre plan.

“The harbour and foreshore of the future will be a pivotal destination where locals and tourists celebrate the beautiful natural environment and the heritage port,” Mr Kelly said.

“The heart of a working harbour with its commercial fishing will be combined with cafés, restaurants, boardwalks, playgrounds and artwork to create a vibrant beachside café and maritime activity scene.”

Potential investors can obtain information packages on the Department of Lands website www.lands.nsw.gov.au or call Natalie Heise at the Department on (02) 4920 5058.

Tourism Wollongong chairman Jim Eddy welcomed the Department of Lands announcement, and said the foreshore re-development would define the city’s tourist precinct.

Mr Eddy said the industry in Wollongong was excited by the current investment in hotels, and said other projects like the University of Wollongong’s $300 million Innovation Campus currently under construction just north of the city would also increased the demand for quality accommodation by increasing the number of business visitors to the city.

Mr Brown said tourism was playing an increasingly important role in the regional economy, contributing $684 million in the year to June 2007 and generating 6500 jobs.

A Report by The Mole from the Gong!