Pelican feeding at The Entrance has been identified as an activity for review in the development of a Tourism Opportunity Plan, according to Central Coast Council staff.
Council’s Directorate of Connected Communities was responding to a question from The Entrance Ward Councillor, Bruce McLachlan. When Council met on May 7, Clr McLachlan asked: “What options do we have to monetise The Entrance Pelican Feeding, an example would be a photo stand and professional photography linked to a website or a photo next to a giant pelican statue? “This can be leased to an operator or Council run,” Clr McLachlan’s question added. “We have busloads of overseas tourists visiting the site and not adding to the local economy, before heading off to the Hunter Valley to spend their tourism dollars,” he said. In response, Council staff said: “Council endorsed the Central Coast Destination Management Plan 2018- 21 in December 2017. “This strategic document provides a high-level plan to support the growth of the visitor economy of the Central Coast region. “One of the deliverables of this overarching document is the development of a Tourism Opportunity Plan which will aim to identify specific opportunities to support the desired outcomes of the Destination Management Plan.
“Council is committed to exploring, in detail, and in conjunction with the local tourism industry, what greater opportunities can be identified to support the Visitor Economy of The Entrance and the greater Central Coast region. “The status of the Pelican Feed as an iconic and heavily-attended activity for our region, and the interest in it on both a local and international visitor level, has been considered by Council staff, and it is identified as an activity for review on the development of the Tourism Opportunity Plan,” the staff report said. “There are opportunities to improve the visitor experience and to prepare for any future increase in attendance and demand on the activity; including possible infrastructure, product development, revenue streams and marketing needs, and also to engage local businesses to leverage the activity to elevate the opportunities it has on the wider visitor economy. “Council staff would also like to note that the success of this activity to date has relied heavily on the dedication of a group of passionate volunteers, and it is our intention that they are consulted throughout the abovementioned process to ensure the Pelican Feed remains a sustainable activity that supports and contributes to managing the health and wellbeing of the local pelican population,” the report said.
Source: Agenda item 6.5, Jun 12 Central Coast Council ordinary meeting