Blue Mountains. Tourism plan collapses

Blue Mountains City councillors are putting pressure on businesses to come up with ways to ease the burden on ratepayers for infrastructure costs in tourist areas after a 12-month Tourist Voluntary Contribution Scheme trial collapsed due to lack of support, according to the Blue Mountains Gazette. A council report stated the planned trial — aimed at raising at least $60,000 via guest donations — required the involvement of at least seven major accommodation businesses to be viable but it lacked the support of Blue Mountains Lithgow and Oberon Tourism (BMLOT), the Blue Mountains Accommodation Association (BMAA), and the Australian Hotels Association.