A war of words has broken out over future ways to promote Cronulla as a tourism destination to Australia and the world.
Councillor Marie Simone has called for a council report identifying opportunities to improve the appearance of all major gateways to Cronulla, bring tourist buses into the suburb from the city and review current and future promotional activities.
Frustrated by constant talk and reports on how to bring Cronulla up to scratch, Cr Simone made passionate speech at last Monday’s council meeting calling for urgent action to make the shire’s jewel in the crown shine again.
She didn’t mix words, calling Cronulla Mall a dump and adding the centre is dying because of greedy landlords.
Cr Simone said she was sick of hearing talk, that action needed to be taken and that was why she was calling for a report identifying opportunities to improve and promote Cronulla.
“Cronulla is dying,” she said. “We really need to support this for Cronulla.
“From Gannons Road down Kingsway to Cronulla, we should plant palm trees so people know they are coming to a tourist area,” she said.
A water feature in the form of a large crystal wave could be installed at the northern end of the Cronulla Mall to give visitors a sense of arrival in Cronulla.
Cr Simone said she was born and grew up in Cronulla and it upset her that people were still talking about solutions for the suburb but nothing was being done.
“In 2004 we asked Bruce Baird (former NSW Transport, Roads and Tourism Minister and Chairman of the Tourism and Transport Forum) to organise buses to bring tourists from the city to Cronulla so people could come and shop and not worry about parking. It’s 2017 and nothing has been done. It really upsets me.
“You should be supporting Cronulla because it is the jewel of the shire.”
Cr Carol Provan supported her but added that Cronulla has been a work in progress for many years.
“Gerrale Street is amazing. We are starting to move through the Mall and it will be amazing,” Cr Provan said.
“We are going forward. Probably not fast enough for us.”
Cr Simone said that overseas people knew all about Bondi and Manly but not Cronulla.
“Manly and Bondi Beaches are not as good as Cronulla,” she said. “Campbell Parade is a mess.
“Cronulla is a much more beautiful beach that Bondi. We have to promote our attractions.”
She is also worried about local people spending their money outside of Cronulla.
“There is money in Cronulla but people take it out of Cronulla to spend. We have to spend in Cronulla.
“We really, really need to do the best for our jewel in the crown.”
But Cr Michael Forshaw spoke against her call for a report, saying there was a proper and appropriate way to go about it.
‘We have the Cronulla Master Plan which is a work in progress which is going to happen over a number of years and will cost $30 million,” he said.
“She is asking council to do another report when the staff are already working on it.
“The council’s economic development and tourism committee is looking at a range of issues including how to improve tourism accommodation facilities.
“The economic development and tourism committee has a lot of business people and tourism operators on it.
“This as a grandstanding stunt by her. This is just asking the council staff to do more reports in the middle of work that is already being done.
“The better way is to put up her ideas through the economic development and tourism committee committee and also as part of the Master Plan.”
Cr Simone said that her call was nothing to do with the Master Plan.
“This is about the gateways to Cronulla,” she said. “I just want this place to boom.”
The majority of councillors agreed to Cr Simone’s request for a report.
Cr Simone called for a report identifying opportunities to:
Improve the appearance to all major gateways to Cronulla via the installation of prevalent tourist focused signage and landscaping, incorporating native palm trees and other complementary plantings.
Incorporate a decorative and interpretive water feature in the shape of a wave at the northern end of Cronulla Plaza.
Work with Destination NSW, tourism operators and major hotel companies to develop a business case to facilitate bus tours between the city and Cronulla for tourists.
Review current and future promotional activities for the Cronulla commercial and tourist localities
Reviews the ecotourism opportunities within Cronulla and Bundeena regions.
Reviews and updates the past tourism and hotel capacity reviews undertaken by previous terms of Council.
Details the implications of identifying Cronulla as a possible regional centre.
