From the Mayor’s desk: Cr Leah Anderson

PORT Stephens’ natural beauty attracts many visitors each summer.

While that seasonal boom is a welcome boost for local businesses, we must focus on attracting visitors and spending during the quieter months to sustain jobs and keep our towns thriving.

Events are among the most effective tools we have to reduce the impacts of seasonal visitation, support businesses, and drive visitor spend.

Our Event Sponsorship Program does exactly that. It brings people to Port Stephens outside the height of summer to showcase what we have to offer and promote our region to national and international audiences.

This month, we celebrate one of our much loved sponsored events, Sail Port Stephens.

We’ve proudly supported Sail Port Stephens since 2008 and this year remain a Major Sponsor as the regatta becomes the largest in its 18-year history.

Over three weeks, Sail Port Stephens will host three major regattas with thousands of sailors, spectators, and supporters in our waterways.

We’re expecting more than 300 yachts, each with about eight crew, making it the biggest regatta in Australia.

That scale brings direct benefits to our cafes, restaurants, accommodation providers, retailers and tour operators, and it also helps raise the profile of Port Stephens as a destination for boating, dining and relaxation.

For the first time, Sail Port Stephens will activate Nelson Bay throughout the full three-week period, creating a vibrant ‘regatta village’ at d’Albora Marina, featuring daily entertainment, markets and sailing presentations for the broader community to enjoy.

A highlight will be the Sail Port Stephens Street Party on Wednesday 15 April from 5-10pm, when Magnus and Stockton Streets come alive with food, live music, and late-night shopping.

Together, these events will bring over $3.5 million in economic value to Port Stephens, showing why ongoing investment in events and ongoing partnerships with businesses is vital to driving year round spending and supporting our local businesses and tourism.

By Port Stephens Mayor Leah ANDERSON