NSW Gov't Committee- Tourism in local communties enquiry - submissions sought.

The NSW Government "General Purpose standing committee No.3" is enquiring about tourism in local communities. The terms of reference cover issues, impacts, marketing and any thing related to the issue. The committee is seeking submissions with a closing date of 28 June 2013. Information on submission content, terms of reference and submission format are available at the weblink below.

A link to the relevant page with submission info: http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/Parlment/committee.nsf/0/F9A89E80EC796DE1CA257B630006FEF7

This is an opportunity for NAPFA and individuals to tell the standing committee about the importance of detecting/fossicking to many NSW communities. Submissions can also include references to impediments to tourism and put forward ideas/solutions and recommendations for action. Ie changing legislation, re-establishing fossicking areas and all the other things that wiill make it easier for us to detect and inject funds into struggling local communities.

I plan to draft a submission but will talk with Steve/NAPFA first.

Good pick-up. sounds great. good opportunity to put our case. let's talk.

This is something that many forum members could contribute to. There are many good writers on the forum so how about turning your skills and creativity to this task.

You don't have to make it a long document, even a couple of hundred words is helpful, but more if you can. Just use your own personal experiences and your local knowledge to explain to the committee in your own words how important tourism is to the regional economy of NSW and in particular how you think prospectors and fossickers can contribute to that process. And how things could be made better for prospecting 'tourists' or visitors.

Use examples of where you know it has worked well -- including interstate. And also examples of where it is not working well and why not.

Tell them how much money you spend in regional areas chasing gold. If you go to WA or some other state, tell them why.

NAPFA will lodge its own submission which we will post onto the NAPFA website as well but any government inquiry will benefit from hearing directly from the public.

Details here: http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/Parlment/committee.nsf/0/F9A89E80EC796DE1CA257B630006FEF7

As Tributer points out, submissions can also include references to impediments to tourism and put forward ideas/solutions and recommendations for action. i.e. changing legislation, re-establishing fossicking areas and all the other things that will make it easier for us to detect and inject funds into struggling local communities

Feel free to copy your submissions to President@napfa.net Your submissions help us understand the issues better as well.

THE MORE THE MERRIER! Time to let them know we are here and that we care.

Gooday Steve, put in a submission outlining my personal expenditure, with missus , in pursuit of Hobby detecting in the last 12 months with the vast majority outside NSW because of access problems. When it came to costs even I was a little amazed but what the hell.
regards Phil

Excellent --thanks Phil. Yes...I too sometimes don't really want to look at the bottom line...the stories of individuals are an important part of this fight. cheers.

NAPFA had lodged a submission to this inquiry which is focused on developing regional tourism in NSW.  

In our submission we explained how fossicking had the potential to provide a boost to tourism but this was being hampered by access issues and lack of organized promotion of fossicking as a tourism activity.

I am pleased to report that NAPFA has now been asked to participate in public hearings for the inquiry in Sydney on the 26th of August.

This will provide an opportunity to further explain to the Committee concerns that we have over the access issues in NSW and their effect on local tourism.  We will highlight the potential contribution of fossicking to local tourism economies.

This is part of NAPFA’s work to help fossicking access and interests in NSW.

I was also delighted to see that a number of other NAPFA members, also lodged their personal submissions. In fact there were EIGHT separate submissions that covered fossicking from a total of 76 submissions, which is an outstanding contribution by the fossicking community to the inquiry. Thanks to all who contributed!

Here is a link to all the submissions, including NAPFA’s (number 44) and PMAV’s (number 41):

http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/Parlment/committee.nsf/V3ListSubmissions?open&ParentUNID=F9A89E80EC796DE1CA257B630006FEF7

Sydney’s Sun Herald Newspaper also followed up on our submission and they published the following story which outlines NAPFA’s concerns over access issues.

Be sure to check out the video links.  

Many thanks to Canberra NAPFA members Barry and Gay Gardner and their grandson Tom for assisting with the story!  Here is the link:

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/a-lack-of-prospects-20130720-2qawh.html


cheers

Stephen
NAPFA President.