Surf Coast Community Column

Sadly, none of our AFL football sides we support even made the AFL finals! However, we were all buoyed by the bumper turn out along the coast on the Friday public holiday celebrating the AFL Grand Final. The week-end saw our tourism trade boom and many visitors enjoying the Surf Coast.

In Torquay and Anglesea, businesses reported a busy time and a large accommodation provider reported a 100% capacity. Holiday homes and caravan parks were also very active. Tourists revelled in the warm weather and enjoyed our fine cafes, markets, restaurants and visiting our iconic sites and beautiful waterfronts.

This long week-end goes hand-in-hand with holiday homes being opened up in anticipation of up-coming Christmas holidays.

Tourism now being one of this regions’ major economic drivers- to see coffee shops and restaurants jam packed was heartening for our businesses, and extra staff were called in to help cope with the demand. In time this Grand final public holiday will no doubt result in greater visitation as more families embrace the long week end and spend it away from Melbourne-and where better to spend it than on the Surf Coast?

So let’s hope for more warm weather which should, in turn, generate a further boost to tourism and local economy and importantly local jobs.

So three cheers for this “footy” weekend and for our teams next year!

Warm Regards,
David Bell, Libby Coker, Rose Hodge and Margot
SmithSurf Coast Shire Councillors