NSW Budget Provides Events and Venues Boost

Funding for Events NSW, the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Showgrounds have been announced in the 2010/11 NSW State Budget.

Treasurer Eric Roozendaal announced $40.9 million in funding for Events NSW to allow the ongoing cultivation of an events calendar to drive visitation throughout the year. The NSW Government is also spend $45 million over the next 10 years to keep the National Rugby League Grand Final in Sydney.

The NSW Government is to spend $45 million upgrading the Sydney Showground in Homebush Bay to allow the city's second AFL team to play its home games there when it joins the competition in 2012.

Other leisure funding includes $6.7 million for improving public safety and enhanced amenities at the key tourism precincts of Circular Quay, the Rocks and Darling Harbour and $17.3 million to improve venue facilities at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Other significant measures include a big cut to poker machine taxes for pubs through the introduction of a tax-free threshold of $200,000 and $152 million to upgrade the Sydney Opera House.

Tourism and Transport Forum Executive Director, Brett Gale, says that the commitment of funding for marketing, events and improved tourism product in the NSW Budget will help to maintain employment and private sector investment.

However Gale is critical of a failure to invest in additional convention and exhibition facilities in NSW, stating "it is disappointing not to see a longer-term commitment to expanding convention and exhibition facilities, either near the CBD or at Sydney Olympic Park.

"Conference and convention delegates are the highest-yield tourist category, spending more per capita than every other type of visitor.

"This lack of investment means Sydney will continue to miss out on major business events, as our competitors continue to build bigger, greener and more modern facilities."

Image: The Sydney Opera House will benefit from the 2010/11 NSW State Budget. 

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