This essentially left SCT bereft of funds forcing it to exist on a cash carry over from 2008-09 of $210,000 and other funds it may secure from membership, grant funds or fundraising activities.

SCT’s uncertain future has compounded its financial problems, as it is reluctant to seek annual membership fees while its funding arrangements are in doubt.

Subsequently it found itself in a financial predicament, which the council has temporarily relieved with the $120,000 lifeline it threw to it last week.

The other issue that has underpinned SCT’s problems is a failure of the tourism industry to throw its weight behind the body. Council’s general manager Peter Tegart discreetly referred to this in his report to the council. He states, “It would appear the oversight (by SCT) of visitor information centres, memberships and the booking service has remained contentious and indeed may have hampered the ability of SCT to progress their strategic objectives contained in their business plan.”

This reflects poorly on some members of the tourism industry who continue to its detriment to promote their own agendas, driven we suspect, by a desire to see SCT falter.

Under the circumstances, one could not blame the council if it were to wash its hands completely of the tourism industry given its factionalism.

If the industry cannot embrace a tourism body that is striving to create and foster new markets should the general ratepayer continue to support it, is a question that needs to be answered.

The council is showing some leadership on the matter.

It is reviewing the terms and licensing operations of the visitor information centres with a view to removing them from SCT’s management and has said it might be appropriate to discontinue the booking service.

But herein lies another problem - one of the key reasons for membership of SCT is that it entitles the member to display their brochures in the VICs without this key attraction holding on to members might prove to be a challenge.

The booking service, once a source of revenue, has virtually become obsolete, as other websites have sprung up and taken business from it.

Mr Tegart has identified that further council assistance might be required to rationalise the tourism industry and define the roles of SCT, local associations and local operators on the understanding the industry becomes self reliant.

This is a positive response to an exceedingly vexatious issue.

Mr Tegart sees a role for SCT in the local tourism industry albeit different from its role today.

We believe SCT is critical to the future of the tourism industry in the shire and it must survive.

If the industry is to grow it is imperative it reaches into new markets.We cannot afford to stand still on the expectation that out primary target market, Victoria, will sustain the area into the future.

If the conservative farming industry can embrace change, which it has been forced to do to survive, our local tourism operators must broaden their concept of the industry.

SCT is the vehicle to fulfil this role and it should be provided with the financial wherewithal to allow it to do this.

SCT offers a long-term vision for the industry.

SCT plans to position the Sapphire Coast in the market so it is able to take full advantage of future shifts in the tourism industry. Part of its brief is also to maintain relationships with Australia’s Coastal Wilderness, Tourism NSW, South Coast Regional Tourism Organisation and Tourism Australia.

It might be appropriate for the council to resubmit an application for a rate variation for 2010-2011 to fund SCT. But if it is to gain the Minister’s approval it should only be applied to the commercial ratepayer. The Department of Local Government’s Comparative Information on NSW councils shows that the commercial rate in this shire is much lower than that of the other councils that it is benchmarked against.