The Central Coast needs between 1,285 and 3,854 rooms to meet current visitor demand for commercial accommodation, according to the draft tourism plan which is about to go on public exhibition.
The draft Destination Management Plan (DMP) was adopted on Tuesday, November 23 by Central Coast Council Administrator Rik Hart.
The report said the high scenario of 3,854 rooms provided the most accurate reflection of accommodation needs, as there was a critical lack of quality contemporary accommodation stock.
Council said it was a significant shortfall when compared to the supply of commercial accommodation at competing destinations and the assessment did not take into account future demand.
The Central Coast accommodation supply was dominated by short-term holiday rentals, including Airbnb and Stayz, the report said.
AirDNA data indicates there are about 2,339 self-contained units, apartments and houses, the majority of which are entire homes (94 per cent).
Council said benchmarking demonstrates a major gap in hotel/resort/motel or motor Inn accommodation of almost 10 per cent and caravan park or commercial camping grounds.
“There is a lack of luxury and premium/boutique accommodation facilities in the Central Coast,” the draft report said.
“These are required to meet current visitor demand and attract higher yielding visitor markets.”
It said much of the region’s accommodation stock was tired and in need of reinvestment to meet contemporary visitor expectations.
Key destinations that should be prioritised for accommodation included Gosford and the hinterland.
Council sad reinvestment in existing building stock in town centres and in proximity to key visitor destinations should be prioritised.
It names the Beachcomber Hotel and Resort, Toukley, as an example of an existing accommodation facility that had been successfully reinvested in to meet the standards and expectations of the current visitor market.
Three targets of the new DMP are to grow overnight visitors by 10 per cent; increase visitor expenditure by 15 per cent and increase visits to the hinterland by 20 per cent.
The Draft Central Coast Destination Management Plan 2022-2025, will return to Council for adoption after the public exhibition.
It’s a big document with some big ideas, including a high speed ferry from Sydney to Gosford and identifying “hero assets” potentially including Bouddi National Park, Brisbane Water National Park and Munmorah State Conservation Area.
It looks at introducing opportunities for mapping and promoting authorised mountain bike trails across the Central Coast and developing “ hero food experiences” that capitalise on unique offerings such as oysters.
One long term plan is to Identify a potential location for development of a cultural precinct on the Central Coast.
Merilyn Vale