Draft MidCoast Rural Strategy

Table 8. MidCoast Tourism Destination Management Plan SWOT of Rural Tourism 29

STRENGTHS Natural environment including world heritage listed national parks, wetlands of international significance, waterways, lakes and river systems Range of existing outdoor recreation and nature-based facilities and places Villages showcasing rural heritage, history and rural lifestyle High-quality local produce including Wallis Lake oysters, local wineries, etc – Manning Valley Naturally brand doing well in agriculture sector Proximity to Sydney and Newcastle Established tourism industries e.g. dolphin & whale watching, kayaking and some existing high-quality accommodation

OPPORTUNITIES MCC’s and region’s commitment to sustainability Urban renewal in Taree and Forster to take advantage of and improve access to the Manning River and Wallis Lake respectively Short breaks market is growing – tailor regional offer to capitalise on this growth Strengthen relationships with potential partners to deliver new products and experience, such as NPWS and the Local Aboriginal Land Councils and private sector Strengthen collaboration through creation of a single destination brand that encapsulates or reflects the values, emotional territory and attributes of the three former local government areas

Cycling and walking trials Wide range of popular events and festivals Contemporary coastal villages

WEAKNESSES Limited range of accommodation types Maintenance required to some visitor infrastructure and facilities e.g. walking trails Inconsistent standards of customer service, including some villages not offering 7 day or weekend services Limited resources for implementation of signature experiences Inconsistent levels of capacity within the industry and visitor services Inconsistent levels of industry engagement

CHALLENGES Hyper-seasonality over summer along the coast Inconsistent promotion and use of local produce in local restaurants and cafes Managing visitor economy infrastructure projects across multiple land tenure Growing demand during non-peak (low and shoulder) seasons and increasing regional dispersal Access to waterways e.g. rivers in the hinterland and easements across private land

These are discussed in additional detail within the Plan however, the following signature experiences and key game-changer projects have been put forward which would directly impact upon rural lands and tourism in the MidCoast: •

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Develop a regional events strategy, including a ‘Soil to Sea’ produce event or markets to recognise and promote the diverse and seasonal produce or ‘nature’s bounty’ offered by the NSW Mid North Coast region and leverage the global trend relating to experience locally-curated food and drink experiences.

Draft MidCoast Rural Strategy

Articles inside

Table 10. Recommended E3 Environmental Management Zone Criteria

Table 9. Recommended E2 Environmental Conservation Zone Criteria

Figure 18. NSW Planning Legislation Framework

Figure 17. Current Planning Controls, from Local Strategic Planning Statement

Figure 16. Coastal Zone of the MidCoast, Coastal Management SEPP 2018

Figure 15. Priority Drinking Water Catchments and Aquifer Catchments in the MidCoast

Figure 14. Broad Catchment Areas of the MidCoast from the Rural Waterways paper

Figure 13. Hunter Regional Plan 'Proposed Biodiversity Corridors'

Figure 12. The MidCoast LGA - Location, Infrastructure and Natural Assets

Figure 11. Location of MidCoast centres, from Local Strategic Planning Statement

Figure 10. Experiences available across the 'Green Grid' of the MidCoast

Figure 9. Destination Barrington Coast, statistics from December 2020

Figure 8. Our Growing and Changing Population, from MidCoast Housing Strategy

Figure 7: Typical mine or quarry project life cycle

Figure 6: Location of underground resources in the MidCoast

Table 8. MidCoast Tourism Destination Management Plan SWOT of Rural Tourism

Figure 5. MidCoast contribution to NSW economy by agricultural industry (ABS 2011

Table 7. MidCoast LSPS Planning Priorities relevant to the Rural Strategy

Table 6. MidCoast 2030 Goals and Actions relevant to the Rural Strategy

Table 5. NSW Government Priority Actions relevant to MidCoast Rural Strategy

Figure 4. Location Quotients and Employment Growth for MidCoast Industries

Figure 3. Strategic Actions for Priority Growth Industries in the Hunter

Figure 2. Hunter Regional Development Investment Prospectus, Local Government Areas

Table 4. Data Gaps identified in Background Reports to Rural Strategy

Table 1. Non-Urban Zones from the Standard Instrument Principal Local Environmental Plan available to use across the rural landscape of the MidCoast Local Government Area

Table 2. Strategic Centres and Centres of Local Significance, Hunter Regional Plan 2036

Table 3. Major legislation, policy and strategies influencing the Rural Strategy

Figure 1. Rural, Environmental and Waterway zoned land considered in the Rural Strategy

1 Strategic Goals and Local Planning...................................................................................64

1 Data Gaps – Challenges and Opportunities......................................................................19