Last edition’s letter to the editor in Manning River Times from John Steven’s was a very balanced, intelligent portrayal of the “Barrington Coast “ saga.
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The criticism I have of MidCoast Council is that they failed to take the grass roots public with them in decision making on the Destination NSW strategy, resulting in division due to lack of understanding of the end objective.
The objective is to have people from outside of this area both within the State and beyond to come and stay for more than a brief stopover.
The overarching strategy is a NSW Government initiative.
The research to inform local decision makers on branding an area, involves asking people outside of this area to identify with a geographic marker.
The “coast” is a given but that extends way north and south.
Well then, what other marker lines our area to a point inland so that our part of the coast is pin pointed is the next question?
Like it or lump it, the “outsiders” didn’t readily identify Manning or Great Lakes.
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The logic was, rather than spending years trying to educate outsiders on a new buzz word for the area, simply grab what those outside of this area already identify, that is “Coast” and “Barrington” and tie that to the local promo of Manning Valley, Gloucester, Great Lakes, our rivers, mountains, valleys, wetlands and easy commute.
My first reaction to the name suggested was “you are joking” but the decision makers have to look at the end objective which is a widely identifiable geography that differentiates from other parts of the coast.
The proposal in front of council to rescind is no foregone conclusion but if the rescission is successful, where to from here?
The benefit of outside consultants is to remove local emotion, preconception and even bias when forming recommendations to guide decision makers.
Had the “locals” been better engaged in the process so that it was “owned” or even ask for suggestions, then perhaps the current merry go round would not have evolved into a circus.
