TTF Media Release

31 July 2020

PROGRESS FOR PYRMONT A WIN FOR TOURISM IN NSW

The NSW Government’s new long-term strategy for Pyrmont will attract new investment into the area and lead to increased domestic visitation and new tourism jobs, the Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) said today.

TTF CEO Margy Osmond that this forward-looking draft strategy could support exciting new place-making tourism infrastructure such as a new indoor sports and entertainment venue as well as securing the future of long-planned-for major projects like the Ritz-Carlton development at the Star.

“This all about the future of Pyrmont and Sydney as domestic visitor destinations over the short term as well as international ‘must visit’ locations over the longer term, and that day will come,” Margy Osmond said.

“Tourism has been dragged from pillar to post in recent months, as parts of Australia continue to grapple with containing COVID-19 and borders open and close from one week to the next.

“However, once we transition from the health and safety phase to economic recovery, the economic certainty that comes from forward thinking, visitor attracting and job creating plans like these is critical.

“This drives forward new projects like the new Sydney Fish Markets and Ritz-Carlton hotel at The Star, restores demand over the long term at venues like the ICC Sydney and will also benefit other visitor attractions like the Sydney Theatre Company and Walsh Bay Precinct as well as the Sydney Opera House and Royal Botanic Garden via improved pedestrian links.

“This planning is all about drivers to foster future visitor demand as well as essential infrastructure to supply that demand. To that end, the strategy’s case for a Sydney Metro stop in Pyrmont is exactly the sort of transport infrastructure required to meet renewed intrastate, interstate and, in time, international visitation.

“That is why in addition to securing the JobKeeper extension from the Commonwealth to get us through the here and now, we have also been calling for practical tourism recovery strategies from state governments, where they are currently are able, to plan for tomorrow.

“I congratulate NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet, NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes and NSW Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance for this ambitious Pyrmont Peninsular Place Strategy and wider economic strategy which are investments in Pyrmont and Sydney, Australia’s tourism gateway, over the long term.”

Ends.

Contact: TTF Manager Policy and Government Relations Lindsay Hermes 0418 948 447 lhermes@ttf.org.au