The NSW Government is a major partner for Sydney WorldPride 2023, reinforcing its commitment to grow the state’s visitor economy and celebrate its world-renowned LGBTIQ+ culture and community. Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said: “WorldPride 2023 will showcase Sydney’s strengths to a global audience, from the 500,000 attendees and 78,000 visitors expected to enjoy the event here in the Harbour City, to millions of supporters following from around the world." Much-loved Mardi Gras
favourite events such as the spectacular Parade, Fair Day and Mardi Gras Party will join Sydney WorldPride 2023, in addition to world-class Opening and Closing Ceremonies, a Human Rights Conference, First Nations Gathering and a Pride March across the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge. The NSW Government has also committed another $3.5 million to create ‘Pride Villages’ at Sydney WorldPride 2023. Minister for the Arts Ben Franklin said: “These villages will keep people coming back to the precinct as an entertainment and dining destination and will give more than 78,000 visitors a
welcoming ‘hub’ in Sydney.” Member for Sydney Alex Greenwich said: “This $3.5 million funding will ensure the LGBTIQIA+ heart of Sydney will be beating during WorldPride with what will be one of the biggest street parties in Sydney’s history.”
FLOOD RECOVERY ASSISTANCE FOR NSW The Commonwealth Government and NSW Government are providing more than $551.7 million for flood-affected communities, including support to small businesses, primary producers, councils, individuals and families. A new $285 million Temporary Housing Support Package support package by the NSW Government includes: - $248 million rental support scheme, providing 16 weeks rental support
- $20 million to extend the temporary housing program to allow people to stay on their land in a temporary ‘pod’ dwelling while rebuilding
- $10 million to supply temporary accommodation through mobile motor homes
- $4.5 million to support the Housing Flood Recovery Service to manage long-term housing needs and recovery
- $2.5 million to provide temporary housing through the hiring of recreation camps in the Northern Rivers
- $150,000 for a housing brokerage service enabling the Australian Red Cross to work with private rental companies, such as Airbnb
and Stayz, to help connect people with rental homes.
The first of a 120-strong convoy of motorhomes left Sydney this morning bound for Northern NSW. The NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) is providing volunteer drivers to transport the motorhomes. Additional NSW Government support includes: - $90 million to assist with the clean-up and removal of flood and storm related damage, debris and green waste for the additional 28 disaster declared LGAs
- $75,000 primary producer grants extended to all disaster declared LGAs
- $50,000 small business and not-for-profit grants extended to all disaster declared LGAs
- $1 million grants to additional 28 impacted councils to assist with their immediate social, economic and environmental needs.
Resilience NSW has opened dedicated community recovery centres across the state to provide face-to-face support for those affected by the recent severe storm and flood events. The centres are staffed by expert personnel who can help flood impacted residents and businesses find support, financial assistance and information. A full list of recovery centres is available here. Additional centres will be established as communities begin to transition from response into the clean-up and recovery process. Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke has been appointed as the new Minister for Flood Recovery. Ms Cook will drive the recovery efforts, including clean-up, rebuilding and support programs, while ensuring the recovery process is coordinated, well-funded and enacted swiftly. Additionally, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon has been appointed as Northern NSW Recovery Coordinator. He will retain his role as Deputy Commissioner, allowing him to deploy the full resource of the NSW Police Force while effectively marshalling
all other Government resources. Deputy Commissioner Lanyon will work under the direction of Resilience NSW Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons. Businesses can apply for recovery grants via the Service NSW website or by calling a Service NSW Business Concierge on 13 77 88. Business owners affected by floods and severe storms can also stay up to date with the latest support options on the Service NSW website or call 13 77 88 for assistance. Please
also refer to Destination NSW's NSW First Quick Tips Guides for practical advice to help tourism businesses respond and recover from the impacts of natural disasters. Click here. Pictured: Minister Steph Cooke visits a flood recovery centre in Lismore.
WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT RESTAURANT & CATERING
2022 NSW CELEBRATING INDUSTRY NIGHT Destination NSW proudly partnered with the Restaurant & Catering Association (R&CA) to bring the hospitality sector together this week for the 2022 NSW Celebrating Industry Night. The event, which was held at Doltone House, Jones Bay Wharf, also celebrated 100 years of the R&CA. R&CA CEO Wes Lambert said: “We are tremendously lucky to have so many absolute gems in the hospitality sector spanning the width and breadth of NSW. After suffering so much over the last two years from the COVID-19 pandemic, it was incredible to be able to bring the industry together for such an iconic night despite so many adversities." 2022 NSW CELEBRATING INDUSTRY NIGHT WINNERS CHEF OF THE YEAR: Gerry Maher - Australian Turf Club (Randwick)
INDIGENOUS CHEF OF THE YEAR: Emmett McLeod - Alpha Restaurant (Sydney)
APPRENTICE CHEF OF THE YEAR: Da Som Lee & Thi Cao - William Blue Dining (The Rocks)
MANAGER/SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR: Ottaviano Bonarccorsi -The Star Sydney
BEST NEW VENUE AWARD: Elements Bar and Grill (Pyrmont)
BUSINESS COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARD: Harvest Café & Store (Bathurst)
CULTURAL EXCELLENCE AWARD: Cessnock Hospitality Group
PIVOT & INNOVATION AWARD: His Boy Elroy (Wollongong)
DINER’S CHOICE AWARD: Contact Bar & Kitchen (Woolloomooloo)
FORCE FOR GOOD AWARD: Shaun Christie-David
ONEMUSIC EXCELLENCE AWARD: Donny’s Bar (Manly)
OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD: Laundy Hotels - The Red Lion Hotel (Rozelle)
STRENGTH THROUGH ADVERSITY AWARD: Applejack Hospitality
CONSUMER VOTE AWARD – SYDNEY: Thai Garden House (North Parramatta)
CONSUMER VOTE AWARD - NSW REGIONAL: Vines Restaurant at Hollydene (Jerrys Plains)
YOUNG ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR: Kurtis Bosley - Corretto (Dee Why)
RESTAURATEURS OF THE YEAR WINNER: Alessandro and Anna Pavoni - Ormeggio (Mosman)
LIFETIME ACHIEVER WINNER - Aunty Beryl Van-Oploo
FUNDING BOOST FOR
DENI UTE MUSTER Ninety-one creative organisations will share in $20 million under the seventh batch of grants from the Commonwealth Government’s $200 million Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund. Highlights include $400,000 for the Deni Ute Muster to support the iconic two-day event, which provides significant economic, strategic and social benefits to the Southern Riverina region of NSW.
NSW MURAL WINS NATIONAL AWARDGunnedah’s Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Mural, painted by internationally renowned street artist Heesco Khosnaran, has won the Best Mega Mural Gold Award at the 2021 Australian Street Art Awards. It was one of seven accolades for NSW, with six honouring the outback and the bush life. Three of the winners can be found in the emerging art hub of the Walgett Shire.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING PROGRAM LAUNCHES Australian Regional Tourism has unveiled an online professional development training program for local government and tourism professionals. Tailored specifically for regional destinations, the initiative will help tourism providers stimulate visitation to regional areas that have been impacted by two years of COVID-19-related travel restrictions. The program is sponsored by Tourism Australia.
SYDNEY COUNTS DOWN
TO FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP 2023It is less than 500 days until the world’s biggest women’s sporting event - FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 - gets underway. Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor joined Football Australia, FIFA and the CommBank Matildas to mark the milestone, which coincided with the start of the 2022 NSW Women’s Week. Destination NSW has secured 11 matches during the event, including the final.
SYDNEY'S NEWEST SUPERYACHT LAUNCHES The newest luxurious addition to the Sydney Harbour - The Jackson - has been christened. Named after the city's shimmering harbour waters, the superyacht has the capacity to host more than 500 guests cocktail style. General Manager Nick Lester said: “Everyone knows that Sydney looks its very best from the water so we were inspired to bring a harbour dining and bar experience like no other for all Sydneysiders and visitors alike to enjoy.”
JK-47 PREPARES FOR GREAT SOUTHERN NIGHTS Great Southern Nights kicks off next week at venues around NSW. Delivered by Destination NSW and ARIA, the celebration of live music aims to stimulate the NSW visitor economy, get artists, crews and music venues back doing what they love and encourage people to attend gigs. Hip hop star JK-47 has shared his thoughts on what inspires him about his hometown Kingscliff and the power of nature as he prepares for his performance in Albury on 31 March 2022.
23RD BIENNALE OF SYDNEY LAUNCHES The Biennale of Sydney will present more than 330 artworks by 89 participants and 400 events as part of the 2022 edition, which is open to the public from 12 March to 13 June 2022. Destination NSW is a major strategic partner of the event, the largest of its kind in Australia. Biennale will be open free to the public at Art Gallery of New South Wales, Barangaroo, Circular Quay, Information + Cultural Exchange, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, National Art School in partnership with Artspace, The Rocks and Pier 2/3 at Walsh Bay Arts Precinct.
PRO SURF HEADS TO CENTRAL COAST The NSW Central Coast will host elite surfers at Avoca Beach for the Vissla (male event) and Sisstrevolution (female event) Central Coast Pro QS 3000 events from 14-19 March 2022. The events are the highest points rating events in the Vissla NSW Pro Series. Minister for Tourism Stuart Ayres said: “The NSW Government is proud to work with Surfing NSW and continue its support for the NSW Pro Surf Series. Events of this calibre showcase the natural beauty of our state to the world and help us achieve our goal of being the premier visitor economy of the Asia Pacific.”
VISITOR ECONOMY WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS BIG WEEKEND FOR SURFEST 2022: The Lake Mac City Pro Junior kicks off at Redhead Beach tomorrow as part of Surfest 2022. The surfing festival will run until 3 April at Port Stephens, Lake Macquarie and Newcastle City beaches. Read more DOLLY PARTON FESTIVAL
ANNOUNCED FOR NARROMINE: The inaugural festival features a jam-packed program from 9-10 April that includes live music, a street parade, family-friendly events and much more. Read more COVID LEASE PROTECTIONS EXTENDED FOR SMALL BUSINESS TENANTS: Small businesses doing it tough due to COVID-19 are set to benefit from further NSW Government support following a decision to extend mediation protections under the commercial leasing regulation until 30 June 2022. Read more EXPLORE HILLTOPS ART & CULTURAL TRAIL: Experience the vibrant offerings of arts and culture across the Hilltops region from 9-23 March during Off The Beaten Track. Highlights include the Bach in the Dark musical performance, Murringo Barracks Exhibition, artist workshops and the Old Brick Pub Art and Jewellery Exhibition. Read more FOLLOW DESTINATION NSW ON LINKEDIN: Stay up to date with all the
latest Destination NSW initiatives by following us on LinkedIn. Click here
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