EDA Conference 20th July 2012  Working with councils and the community – an operators perspective  Eamonn Seddon  CEO Puffing Billy Railway

Background  Ffestiniog Railway / WHR - North Wales  West Coast Wilderness Rlwy -Tasmania  Puffing Billy Railway - Victoria  Festiniog Railway Act 1832  WHR - Transport and Works Order 1999  ABT Railway Development Act 1999  Emerald Tourist Railway Act – 1977

Ffestiniog Railway/WHR  Gwynedd County Council  Merioneth District Council  Porthmadog Town Council  Caernarvon Town Council  Blaeunau Ffestiniog Town Council

West Coast Wilderness Railway  West Coast Council  Tasmanian State Government  Tasmanian Legislative Assembly

Puffing Billy  Shire of Yarra Ranges  Cardinia Shire Council  Emerald Village Town Committee (Sec 86)  Consultative Groups  DBI, Tourism Vic. State and Federal Governments

A little about Puffing Billy Railway  Statutory Agency  270,000 visitors per annum  $8 million turnover  364 days per year operation  68 FTE paid staff  1000 volunteers

A little about Puffing Billy Railway  24kms railway  Civil Engineering  Bridges, Culverts, Track  Mechanical Engineering  Heavy Engineering Workshop  13 Locomotives  40 Carriages

A little about Puffing Billy Railway  Passenger Services  Booking Offices  Contact Centre  Retail and F&B Outlets  On-train Catering  Function Centre  Operations Department

A little about Puffing Billy Railway  Marketing Department

A little about Puffing Billy Railway  70% Domestic  30% International  6.5%Chinese  55% Melbourne  20% VFR – 7% interstate,  13% international

A little about Puffing Billy Railway  Marketing Department  Finance Department  Controlled by a Board supported by a Society Executive with a number of sub committees  We are a complex business!

Economic Benefit of Puffing Billy $23 Million contribution 68 direct Jobs 240 upward jobs supported

Social & Environmental Contribution 1000 Volunteers 50 – 60 per day 100,000 Hours

Social & Environmental Contribution  Volunteer Support  Heritage  Local community wellbeing  Education  Environment management activities

 The sticky issues!

Council – Challenges or Opportunities  Planning  Lack of consistency  Political ‘interference’ – self interest groups  Speed of processes  The operator not understanding

Council – Challenges or Opportunities  Organisation  Touch points  One point of contact?  Section 86 committees must work or they become a barrier to meaningful partnerships

Council – Challenges or Opportunities Setting and articulating strategic objectives and how Tourism fits in. Elected representation - skill base and understanding tourism Infrastructure needs Direct – Parking, Signage etc Creating ‘Liveability’ – attracts visitors

Council – Challenges or Opportunities  Marketing – Duplication of effort  Recognise and support the ‘tree’ Tourism Australia State Tourism Regional Tourism Association Local Tourism Association  Marketing – Who runs the VIC ?

Communities  Can't take a horse to water and make it drink !  Self interest  Lack of understanding

What can we as operators do better?  Help Councillors understand tourism  Create partnership with councils so that they understand our needs and we understand council’s  Communicate regularly  Focus groups, discussion groups within the community

Thanks