Draft Waverley Sustainable Visitation Strategy 2019-2024

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Draft Waverley Sustainable Visitation Strategy 2019-2024

Background

Welcome to the Draft Waverley Sustainable Visitation Strategy 2019-2024 and Summary Document. This strategy presents a range of tourism initiatives that aim to maximise benefits to Waverley’s environment, community, culture and business; and to minimise the negative impacts of overtourism on the community.

Tourism is an extremely important contributor to our local economy, Waverley is sufficiently close to Sydney’s CBD; the airport; cruise terminals and other key drivers of tourism, making it a key destination for visitors. This presents both challenges and opportunities to achieve a sustainable level of visitation so that Waverley can maintain and protect its environment, landscape and heritage.

This strategy recommends a visitation framework for Waverley for the next 5 years, one that is built on collaboration and consensus from community, government and industry. The Strategy also introduces the concept of sustainable tourism as a basis for decision-making within the LGA, one that is committed to making a low impact on the environment and local culture, whilst supporting future employment for local people.

The Strategy responds to Waverley’s Community Strategic Plan 2018-2029, Local Economy goals, ensuring that tourism supports the local economy and local amenity.

Have your say

Please share your thoughts on the Draft Waverley Sustainable Visitation Strategy
2019 - 2024 by completing the survey below.

Submissions close Wednesday 14 November 2018.

Next steps

Your feedback from this consultation will be considered when finalising Waverley’s Sustainable Visitation Strategy. The final Strategy is expected to be presented to Council for adoption in February 2019.

Please select which category would best describe you: Required

Resident

Business owner

Visitor

Organsiation

Other

Which of the following visitation challenges, noted within the SVS, do you feel most strongly about. Select your top three issues: Required

Tourism management

Pressure on local amenity

Short term holiday rentals

Parking & congestion

Public transport

Lack of marketing

Lack of visitor information

Lack of visitor signage

Lack of all-weather experiences

Lack of hotels

Seasonality of trade

Rubbish & dumped items

Loss of community character

Illegal backpacker accommodation

Dumped items

Which of the following visitation opportunities, noted within the SVS, do you feel most strongly about. Select your top three priority projects: Required

Council to take a stronger leadership role

Tourism working group

Accessible tourism strategy

Marketing strategy

Reducing pressure on local amenity

Tourism related revenue streams

Innovation and knowledge hub

Pedestrianise Campbell Parade

Local tourism volunteer group

Visitor information and signage

Parking app

Boutique accommodation

Additional heritage attractions

Additional all weather experiences

Tourism hubs

Additional events

How did you hear out about this strategy? Required

Waverley Have Your Say

Media

Council e-news

Social media

Pop-up stall

Customer Service

Council website

Other

Be the first to hear about other consultations, events and projects around Waverley. Please select any of the following e-newsletters you are interested in subscribing to: Required

School Holiday Program

Library What's On

Arts and Culture

Environment

Sport and Recreation

Sustainable Schools

The Mark and Evette Moran NIB Library Award for Literature

Bushcare

Business

General Wavelerley E-news

Email Required

Please provide any other comments you have about the Strategy? Required

How well do you think visitation is managed within the LGA? Required

Very well

Well

Undecided

Poor

Very poor

Council's vision for this Strategy is to start managing visitation holistically and sustainably within the LGA. Do you agree with this vision? Required

Strongly agree

Agree

Undecided

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Age Required

24 and under

25 - 34

35 - 44

45 - 54

55 - 64

65 - 74

85 and over

Suburb Required

Please provide a short reason for your answer Required

Other (please specify) Required

Ignore this field. It is used to detect spammers. If you enter anything into this text box, your submission will be rejected. Ignore this field. It is used to detect spammers. If you enter anything into this text box, your submission will be rejected. Ignore this field. It is used to detect spammers. If you enter anything into this text box, your submission will be rejected.

The survey form is now closed. Thanks for your contributions.

Life Cycle

Timeline item 1 - complete

Open

This consultation is Open for contributions.
Timeline item 2 - active

Under Review

Contributions to this consultation are closed for evaluation and review.
Timeline item 3 - incomplete

Final report

The final documents will be tabled at the ordinary meeting of Council for final adoption.

Document Library

Draft Waverley Sustainable Visitation Strategy - Summary Document
PDF (24.79 MB)
Draft Waverley Sustainable Visitation Strategy 2019-2024
PDF (90.19 MB)
Draft Waverley Sustainable Visitation Strategy - Supporting Documentation
PDF (3.25 MB)

Document Library

Draft Waverley Sustainable Visitation Strategy - Summary Document
PDF (24.79 MB)
Draft Waverley Sustainable Visitation Strategy 2019-2024
PDF (90.19 MB)
Draft Waverley Sustainable Visitation Strategy - Supporting Documentation
PDF (3.25 MB)

FAQs

What is the Draft Waverley Sustainable Visitation Strategy 2019 - 2024 (SVS)?
What is the vision?
Why do we need a SVS?

FAQs

What is the Draft Waverley Sustainable Visitation Strategy 2019 - 2024 (SVS)?
The Draft Waverley Sustainable Visitation Strategy 2019 – 2024 (SVS) is a plan that highlights recommended initiatives that aim to maximise benefits to Waverley’s environment, community, culture and business; and minimise negative impacts of overtourism on the local community.
What is the vision?
The following vision statements summarise the desired outcomes from this strategy:

· Positioning Waverley as a leading sustainable destination with a protected landscape, rich history and vibrant community

· Positioning Bondi Beach and Bondi Junction as key neighbourhood hubs offering; arts and cultural experiences; clustered health and wellness product; walking trails; food trails; entertainment experiences and heritage attractions.

· Positioning Bondi Junction as a significant district centre, renowned for business, knowledge and innovation.
Why do we need a SVS?
Waverley has had a long history of tourism management. The natural influx of visitors to the area has had a range of positive and negative impacts on the local community. Council holds a strong position on sustainability and wishes to extend this to tourism management to achieve a balance between the needs of residents, businesses and visitors.
What is the difference between a visitor economy and tourism?
The visitor economy takes into account broader economic activity than that which has historically been defined as ‘tourism’. It includes direct and indirect impacts resulting from a visitor travelling outside their usual environment for a holiday, leisure, events, business, conventions and exhibitions, retail, education, to visit friends and relatives or for short-term employment.
Who is the SVS for?
The SVS is for all operators in the visitor economy, from large corporate players, to small businesses. It is for the broader residents and community to ensure the environmental, economic and lifestyle sustainability of the Waverley LGA.
How was the SVS developed?
State and Federal Governments identified the visitor economy as a priority best managed through destination management plans. This was highlighted in the NSW Visitor Economy Industry Action Plan.
The Waverley SVS has evolved since Council began working on the project in 2016 with the support of an external consultant, Stafford Consultancy Group. Engagement with Internal staff, Councillors, and external stakeholders along with further research, identified clear priorities for the strategy to address the three pillars of sustainability – economic, social and environmental. This now underpins the action plan, which is also aligned to the new Community Strategic Plan 2018 – 2029.
Who are the stakeholders we have consulted with to draft this strategy?
The commissioned consultant, undertook extensive consultations with internal staff, Councillors and external stakeholders, including Destination NSW, Bondi Chamber of Commerce, and local businesses.
Due to the large amount of Community consultation throughout 2017 and 2018, the SVS has incorporated feedback from the Community Strategic Plan sessions and aligned all projects with specific theme priorities.
How have the priorities been determined for the SVS?
The Waverley SVS prioritises the sustainability of Waverley’s environment, culture and heritage as the cornerstones for tourism management within the LGA. All recommended projects within this plan now clearly contribute to one or all of the three pillars of sustainability, benefitting Waverley’s economic, social or environmental goals.

The strategy objectives are to:

1. Develop a sustainable approach to tourism management that protects and maintains Waverley’s environment, culture and heritage.

2. Integrate tourism effectively within the community and mitigate the negative impacts of tourism on local amenity.

3. Grow Waverley’s share of higher-yielding visitor markets.
4. Support tourism product, which generates a sustainable commercial return.
What steps are being taken to ensure sustainability of the visitor economy?
Waverley LGA attracts approximately 2.5 million visitors each year, which contributes significantly to Waverley’s economy. This figure does not include an additional 4.3 million local visits from residents and neighbouring LGAs within a 25 km radius. Economically, this is advantageous, however, the negative impacts from high visitation is possibly leading Waverley into a state of overtourism. Overtourism describes destinations where too many visitors negatively affect the quality of life in the area or the quality of the experience unacceptably.
In response to this concern, the SVS now looks to the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s Destination Criteria as a global benchmark for sustainable tourism practices. The initial step in this process is to formulate an inclusive tourism working group that is responsible for rolling out the SVS and monitoring the success of its initiatives.

The SVS is a five-year plan that considers the uniqueness of Bondi, the requirements for Waverley and balancing community priorities to leverage from this high visitation. The Waverley SVS represents a framework that ensures opportunities across the Waverley economy for investment, job creation and potential income sources are well-managed and that key cultural and natural heritage assets are maintained and celebrated.
How is the progress of the strategy going to be monitored?
The SVS presents a range of project opportunities and priorities, all of which have indicative timelines for consideration. However, each project will be subject to appraisal and advice from a new Tourism Working Group. Once the TWG is in place, key projects will be identified from that point and timelines readjusted.
What is the Draft Waverley Sustainable Visitation Strategy 2019 - 2024 (SVS)?
The Draft Waverley Sustainable Visitation Strategy 2019 – 2024 (SVS) is a plan that highlights recommended initiatives that aim to maximise benefits to Waverley’s environment, community, culture and business; and minimise negative impacts of overtourism on the local community.
What is the vision?
The following vision statements summarise the desired outcomes from this strategy:

· Positioning Waverley as a leading sustainable destination with a protected landscape, rich history and vibrant community

· Positioning Bondi Beach and Bondi Junction as key neighbourhood hubs offering; arts and cultural experiences; clustered health and wellness product; walking trails; food trails; entertainment experiences and heritage attractions.

· Positioning Bondi Junction as a significant district centre, renowned for business, knowledge and innovation.
Why do we need a SVS?
Waverley has had a long history of tourism management. The natural influx of visitors to the area has had a range of positive and negative impacts on the local community. Council holds a strong position on sustainability and wishes to extend this to tourism management to achieve a balance between the needs of residents, businesses and visitors.
What is the difference between a visitor economy and tourism?
The visitor economy takes into account broader economic activity than that which has historically been defined as ‘tourism’. It includes direct and indirect impacts resulting from a visitor travelling outside their usual environment for a holiday, leisure, events, business, conventions and exhibitions, retail, education, to visit friends and relatives or for short-term employment.
Who is the SVS for?
The SVS is for all operators in the visitor economy, from large corporate players, to small businesses. It is for the broader residents and community to ensure the environmental, economic and lifestyle sustainability of the Waverley LGA.
How was the SVS developed?
State and Federal Governments identified the visitor economy as a priority best managed through destination management plans. This was highlighted in the NSW Visitor Economy Industry Action Plan.
The Waverley SVS has evolved since Council began working on the project in 2016 with the support of an external consultant, Stafford Consultancy Group. Engagement with Internal staff, Councillors, and external stakeholders along with further research, identified clear priorities for the strategy to address the three pillars of sustainability – economic, social and environmental. This now underpins the action plan, which is also aligned to the new Community Strategic Plan 2018 – 2029.
Who are the stakeholders we have consulted with to draft this strategy?
The commissioned consultant, undertook extensive consultations with internal staff, Councillors and external stakeholders, including Destination NSW, Bondi Chamber of Commerce, and local businesses.
Due to the large amount of Community consultation throughout 2017 and 2018, the SVS has incorporated feedback from the Community Strategic Plan sessions and aligned all projects with specific theme priorities.
How have the priorities been determined for the SVS?
The Waverley SVS prioritises the sustainability of Waverley’s environment, culture and heritage as the cornerstones for tourism management within the LGA. All recommended projects within this plan now clearly contribute to one or all of the three pillars of sustainability, benefitting Waverley’s economic, social or environmental goals.

The strategy objectives are to:

1. Develop a sustainable approach to tourism management that protects and maintains Waverley’s environment, culture and heritage.

2. Integrate tourism effectively within the community and mitigate the negative impacts of tourism on local amenity.

3. Grow Waverley’s share of higher-yielding visitor markets.
4. Support tourism product, which generates a sustainable commercial return.
What steps are being taken to ensure sustainability of the visitor economy?
Waverley LGA attracts approximately 2.5 million visitors each year, which contributes significantly to Waverley’s economy. This figure does not include an additional 4.3 million local visits from residents and neighbouring LGAs within a 25 km radius. Economically, this is advantageous, however, the negative impacts from high visitation is possibly leading Waverley into a state of overtourism. Overtourism describes destinations where too many visitors negatively affect the quality of life in the area or the quality of the experience unacceptably.
In response to this concern, the SVS now looks to the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s Destination Criteria as a global benchmark for sustainable tourism practices. The initial step in this process is to formulate an inclusive tourism working group that is responsible for rolling out the SVS and monitoring the success of its initiatives.

The SVS is a five-year plan that considers the uniqueness of Bondi, the requirements for Waverley and balancing community priorities to leverage from this high visitation. The Waverley SVS represents a framework that ensures opportunities across the Waverley economy for investment, job creation and potential income sources are well-managed and that key cultural and natural heritage assets are maintained and celebrated.
How is the progress of the strategy going to be monitored?
The SVS presents a range of project opportunities and priorities, all of which have indicative timelines for consideration. However, each project will be subject to appraisal and advice from a new Tourism Working Group. Once the TWG is in place, key projects will be identified from that point and timelines readjusted.

Who's listening

Jessica Manifold

Tourism and Business Coordinator, Waverley Council

Email: jessica.manifold@waverley.nsw.gov.au

Phone	02 9083 8000
Email	engagement@waverley.nsw.gov.au
Website	www.waverley.nsw.gov.au
In writing	Waverley Council 55 Spring Street, Bondi Junction NSW 2022 Australia

Have Your Say Waverley

Draft Waverley Sustainable Visitation Strategy 2019-2024

Jessica Manifold

Tourism and Business Coordinator, Waverley Council

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