Thursday’s briefing (April 19) came hot on the heels of news Sapphire Coast Tourism had indicated it would not be responding to the call for the council contract to provide tourism services from July 1 this year.

The SCT board has indicated it will dissolve upon the completion of its current contract term, but would be happy to get together with whomever picks up the contract to share its experience.

The decision would bring to an end a decade of a close cooperation between the organisation and the council in marketing the Sapphire Coast.

However, discussion at the tender briefing laid to rest some concerns raised in the wake of SCT’s revelation.

First and foremost was a worry the company name “Sapphire Coast Tourism”, and by association the designation of this region as the Sapphire Coast, would be lost if the current company dissolved in July.

BVSC general manager Leanne Barnes said, while negotiations would be undertaken, much of the intellectual property surrounding the name would return to the council.

Representatives from the various visitor information centres were also concerned their funding could be in jeopardy should no other tenderer step forward to fill the shoes of SCT.

Ms Barnes said it would be improper for her and the council to discuss what could happen in that eventuality given the tender process was underway.

However, she said the funding for the centres was guaranteed and enshrined in the contract.

It was suggested that even if the contract lapsed, the option of distributing VIC funding directly by council could be explored, as ongoing funding for them is clearly identified in council’s tourism budget.

The contract to provide tourism marketing services to the Bega Valley Shire is worth $325,000.

That figure is arrived at as the money garnered from business ratepayers (not all ratepayers) through a special variation.

At the briefing there was a question as to a potential increased allocation, but it was explained that due to capped rate pegging, increasing the number of rateable properties would not increase the total raised, it just spreads it across more businesses.

In previous years, SCT has applied for, and in most cases received, additional funding for the year. However, this money – last year it was $95,000 – is from the council’s general fund and not guaranteed as it is an annual budget consideration separate form the special variation.

The invitation to tender for the tourism contract closes on May 2. For further details, visit the BVSC e-tendering portal