A Vibrant Week for Our Industry

This week started off with some exciting news for the hospitality industry, with the NSW Cabinet approving the Environmental Planning and Assessment (Vibrancy Reforms) Bill. ClubsNSW has been proactively engaging with the NSW Government on the introduction of the first suite of vibrancy reforms, and the Bill is a positive step in supporting venues — including clubs — to operate later in the evening in non-residential areas.

Also on the hospitality front, I encourage you to have your say on the state’s Visitor Economy Strategy, which will provide a roadmap for growing the tourism market up to 2030. Clubs — particularly those in regional areas — are at the heart of the visitor economy experience, offering everything from in-house breweries and family friendly dining spaces to world-class live music and entertainment. It’s important that your club’s voice is heard.

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I spent most of Monday at Twin Towns Services Club for a meeting with the Independent Panel for Gaming Reform, where we got a sneak peek at the first cashless gaming trial to go live. We received a full demonstration of the sign-up process, how carded play looks on a gaming machine, and took a look at the support collateral too. Looking forward to seeing the results!

A big thank you to Coogee Legion Club CEO Kristy Strong for hosting myself and our Chief Member Officer Bernadette McLoughlin yesterday. What a stunning location right on the beach (despite the miserable weather here in Sydney at the moment!) — and with a fantastic dish in this year’s Perfect Plate competition too: a crispy beef Malaysian-style curry served with a rice and roti bread.

Speaking of Perfect Plate, if you missed last Sunday night’s Seven News bulletin, be sure to check it out here to see ambassadors Matt Moran and Courtney Roulston tucking into Dee Why RSL’s seared Canadian scallops, much to the delight of the Club’s Executive Chef Scott Drinkwater.

Your Local Club ambassador Nathan Hindmarsh has been eating — and talking up — his fair share of Perfect Plate dishes in the Western Metro region this week too. You can hear him on SEN Breakfast here and Triple M Drive here raving about his first culinary tour for the year, which included stops at Canley Heights RSL, Cabra-Vale Diggers, Bankstown Sports and Moorebank Sports.

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Today, our Chairman and I are off to visit DOOLEYS Chairperson Kevin Morgan and CEO David Mantle in Lidcombe, before popping in to see Canterbury League Club President Peter Winchester and CEO Greg Pickering.

A few ClubsNSW staff members are on their way to Bankstown RSL for the Gotcha4Life Mateship Luncheon to raise funds for a mentally fit future — which sold out last month! A fantastic Club and a very worthy cause, have a great time if you are attending.