I am off to an Economic Development forum this afternoon in Sheffield.

I think we need a settlement strategy for Kentish. We need more ratepayers to help shoulder the cost of maintaining the municipality.

We have lots of infrastructure and not many ratepayers. We need to attract people not just to visit here but to settle here.

More appropriate industries as well. Tourism continues to serve the area well but we must spread the risk. I am not proposing another cement plant. Maybe telecommunications? Maybe agricultural processing ? Maybe?

Let’s see what ideas come out at the forum today.

1. David Anderson Says:
   August 26th, 2009 at 12:45 pm

   Just how much is spent on Tourism for Kentish? How much do Tourist pay in rates? We have all heard about how much Tourism brings in so called money to the area, yet I don’t get a single cent, it goes to business owners. And who are most of the Councillor’s on Kentish Council? (Business Owners)

2. Tim Wilson Says:
   August 26th, 2009 at 8:52 pm

   Thanks David for posting on my blog. I intend to reply to your post very soon.

   Tim

3. tim Says:
   September 7th, 2009 at 3:20 pm

   Hello David,

   The money that tourism brings isn’t “so called” it is real money and a cash injection from outside our local economy. Tourism has economically rejuvinated parts of Kentish particularly Sheffield.

   A prime reason I now get a larger choice in local supermarkets (in Sheffield) is tourists. They have injected new cash (and confidence) into these shops and they have expanded offering locals more choices in products. Locals benefit from this. Some see the streetscapes as only for tourists. I don’t think so. I know locals who are glad the high gutters are now gone and it easier to enter some shops.

   You say “And who are most of the Councillor’s on Kentish Council? (Business Owners)”
   I assume since tourism is the topic of your post that you mean tourism business owners.

   Here are a list of the Councillors please state which are tourism business owners and describe the financial benefits they are gaining from Tourism in Kentish:

   Don Thwaites
   John Deverell
   Annie Willock
   Andrew Keddie
   Peter Campbell
   Penny Lane
   Jan Rootes
   Coralanne Walker
   Tim Wilson

   I know Penny Lane has a shop (at Barrington servicing primarily locals) beyond this I have drawn a blank.I am unsure how you have come to the conclusions that you have??

   Now that all said. I have also questioned what financial returns tourists bring to Council. How much of their money ends up in Council’s coffers given that we provided about $250,000 from memory to tourism in 08/09. What financial return do we get?

   The answer is not much. The businesses bottom line is helped more than Councils. Yes we see some of these tourists decide to move to Kentish which is good. But if they move into an existing property Council sees no increase in it’s rate revenue. We need to see tourists decide to move to Kentish on new allotments. This brings a financial return.

   So I do not think that the promotion of Tourism is the most important role of Council. We have many rural residents who just want their roads graded and bridges kept in good shape. Kentish is far more than tourism. Tourism does not define us. Tourists do matter but so do locals and locals are my focus as a Councillor above all else.

   I acknowledge that the benefits of tourism have been seen primarily in the Sheffield area. While Wilmot and Railton has tourist initiatives clearly Sheffield receives the lion’s share of tourists due to it’s location on the way to Cradle Mountain and the murals project. Tourism is volatile and should not be seen as a saviour of the local economy. Other areas of economic development need to be in place. Another topic.

   I do thank you for writing on my blog David. Please continue to do so. If I am wrong on a point please say so. Happy to debate.