LETTERS & OPINIONS NEW PLAN TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF TOURISM IN THE TWEED

Have your say on how you would like the visitor economy to develop

We’d love to hear from you!

letters@heartlandmedia.com.au

VENDOR ISSUES WITH RVC & NRLX

In the initial stages of Richmond Valley Council considering the sweeping changes to how the Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange is run, and agents contracts, perhaps they should have asked the vendors/ farmers how they feel and what possible ramifcations of the changes could follow on?...

The agents are the source of cattle for the NRLX, not council. I for one wouldn’t consign cattle to be managed by council and I stand behind the agents. RVC mustn’t know all the behind the scenes work the agents do for their clients. I would have thought, surely the management of NRLX know the work agents do leading up to sale days and know the vast majority of farmers are not going to turn their backs on their livestock agents that have been by our sides through drought and food & not to mention some in the area for generations.

For example, our agents come out to our properties and help muster and attend to the health of our herds, drenching, castrating etc..

Since RVC are wanting control of livestock at the NRLX, will they be offering the same service on farms and to the same quality and standard??

Residents, tourism operators and local businesses are being asked to provide feedback on how they would like to see the future of tourism and the visitor economy develop in the Tweed.

Is RVC going to have staff to replace the on-farm work that our agents do? Would not have thought so… you cannot possibly employ staff with the accumulated years of experience, contacts, and cattle breed knowledge that our local agents have.

On the point of NRLX employing their own staff to manage cattle intakes for sales. it takes many years to become experienced at reading and handling cattle, both in the feld and at the saleyards.

The saleyards can be a very dangerous place to work -we have been told RVC are undertaking recruitment and training programs through an out-of-town employment agency. The most concerning thing that has come out of this concept is that staff being trained to handle cattle at the saleyards were told “if you have a beast running towards you in the laneway, don’t jump up on the rails, you might break your leg! Instead lay down fat on the ground”...

Where is the Mayor & Councillors in all this??

This was an email Liz Brown & I (Kelsey Brown) - Iona Speckle Parks- sent, as long term vendors who sell through NRLX - to the RVC… of which we never received any response.

Kelsey Brown

Recognising the importance of tourism to the region’s local economy, Tweed Shire Council and its tourism partner The Tweed Tourism Company (TTC) have commenced a comprehensive review of the region’s Destination Management Plan (DMP).

The region’s inaugural DMP was adopted in 2019 and with signifcant impacts placed on the sector in recent years, an update is underway to ensure the region maintains a relevant strategic planning tool to harness the positive effects of tourism for the local economy.

Mayor of Tweed Shire Chris Cherry said the DMP was an essential strategy for government and industry to guide the Tweed to sustainably leverage and grow the visitor economy while developing as a destination that showcases the region’s strengths.

“The Tweed is a destination that leads with nature, culture and creativity, with a diverse natural beauty and vibrant landscapes that nurture agri-tourism and produce, hold stories of a rich Aboriginal culture and inspire countless local artists and artisans,” Cr Cherry said.

“From developing our destination infrastructure, through to enhancing the visitor experience and marketing of the Tweed as a must-visit brand – a great DMP will help us build a vibrant community to live and visit and support our tourism businesses to thrive for the long- term.”

Sally Scott, Interim General Manager of The Tweed Tourism Company, said the refreshed plan would be critical to effectively manage the region’s future tourism development and

COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent domestic border closures, to the signifcant opportunities created by new developments including the opening of the Tweed section of the Northern Rivers Rail

2030 and the state-based NSW Visitor Economy Strategy (VES) 2030, with growth targets that aim to increase visitor spend across the region. Following a rigorous fnal consultation round with regional and state tourism partners, growth.

“This review of the DMP is timely to ensure the region’s strategic plan remains relevant for the Tweed’s tourism sector and is being developed via an extensive consultation process with local businesses and key stakeholders invited to participate,” Ms Scott said.

“The tourism landscape has changed signifcantly since 2019 with challenging recovery periods experienced as a result of fooding, the

Trail.

“While TTC and Council are the architects of this planning tool, it is important that all local tourism stakeholders need to be invested in its success and delivery to ensure the region is collaborating and working cohesively to sustainably grow visitation, length of stay and expenditure across the region.”

The updated Tweed DMP will align with both the wider North Coast NSW Destination Management Plan 2022- including Destination NSW, Destination North Coast and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, the fnal Tweed Destination Management Plan 20242028 is expected to be adopted by Council by November 2023.

For more information visit the Tweed’s Destination Management Plan project page on Council’s Your Say Tweed portal: yoursaytweed.com.au/ destination. Submissions are open until 31 July 2023.

Tweed Shire Council is seeking community feedback to help inform the development of a new coastal management program to help preserve and protect the muchloved Tweed Coast and its estuaries.

A Tweed Coast and Estuaries Coastal Management Program will be progressed over the next 18 months, based on research and consultation with experts, stakeholders and community members.

The management