Sydney’s big sleep since the Olympics

A report in the Sydney Morning Herald says that Sydney has dropped the baton since the heady successes of the 2000 Games, with David Humphries surveying a range of views about what has gone wrong.

The 2000 Olympics, with all their diversion of public infrastructure focus and funds, were meant to serve as a mighty catalyst for foreign investment and tourism.

They were supposed to showcase NSW as the can-do state, as a place where travellers could be welcomed with warmth and joviality and exposed to a breathtaking diversity of destinations. But somewhere, somehow, it went pear-shaped, according to industry leaders.

“It’s the first city ever in the world that managed to turn Olympic Games into a downturn in tourism, which is incredible,” says Chris Brown, managing director of Tourism and Transport Forum Australia.

“This city did have the strongest brand on earth.” But it squandered it, according to Brown, because it rested smugly on its laurels of natural beauty and built landmarks while other Australian destinations got to work. “Melbourne’s icons are stuff you do, not stuff you look at,” he says.

Patricia Forsythe, executive director of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce, notes the void of five-star hotel openings since the Olympics. “And try booking one of our better hotels in Sydney for most of the year and you won’t get a room.”

The Property Council’s NSW executive director, Ken Morrison, says Sydney is missing events income equal to a rugby world cup each year, but space shortages restraining opportunity were met by talk and masterplans, not the “power and drive” needed.

Politicians, he says, always focused on the next election unless voters made it obvious that “we will vote you out unless you have a long-term plan”. Vision and long-term planning have to be made “sexy again”.

Sentiments at the Herald-organised round table reflect voter perceptions.

In the most recent Herald poll, half of voters disagreed with the proposition that “the Iemma Government is good at competing with other states in attracting business investment and major public events”. Only 35 per cent agreed.

A round-table refrain was NSW’s retreat into inertia relative to other states, particularly Victoria. Sydney-Melbourne rivalry, long a spur for the southern city only, is being stirred from its Sydney hibernation, it seems.

But, say the experts, there is little indication of the NSW Government following suit by turning its eye to the gains of Jeff Kennett and his Labor successors in Victoria.

“What was really weird was NSW contracted over the last two census periods,” says Kerry Barwise, of the Centre for International Economics. “Traditionally, we expect to see labourers pack up and leave when the economy turns down; but we’re seeing skilled people do it.”

Brown says: “There’s no one going, Kennett-style, let’s get it done.” While Victoria and South Australia were running first and second, “NSW just gets lapped”.

Neil Armfield, artistic director of Company B at the Belvoir Street Theatre, says a partnership of imagination had pushed Melbourne beyond a lead in events only. “It’s a classy place to be,” he says.

Kerry Barwise says big idea institutions, such as the Efficiency Commission, helped propel Victoria. “We need a new idea now,” he says. Left to itself, he says, the market would fix Sydney congestion because people would flee high housing costs for better opportunities elsewhere. “I think it’s part of the strategy now.”

If right, the factors Sydney residents nominate for leaving would coalesce into a neat trifecta, and government would not have to raise a finger to affect it. But at what cost?

In the meantime the Mole continues to seek information regarding when the review of Tourism in New South Wales by John O’Neill is going to be released with weekly calls to the Premier’s Office to no avail! 

I suppose that he and Minister Matt are busy “fighting fires” down south, meaning that the State’s most important industry goes right to the bottom of the pile once again. 

If you would like to ask the question – where is John O’Neills’ report on Tourism in New South Wales and when is it being released – I suggest that you email Minister Matt at [email protected]  and Alison Hill in the Premier’s Office at [email protected] – please let us all know how you get on!

Maybe it has been relased and nobody noticed, with life in Government tourism in NSW continuing in the ineffective mire of status quo!

A Report by The Mole from the Sydney Morning Herald