A full submission including a scope of works, budget and confirmation of funding will be submitted to council at the February meeting. Wingercarribbee Shire Council is responsible for operating and providing funding for TSH and understands the large economic benefit that tourism provides.

Peter Harman, chairman of the Tourism Southern Highlands board, is hopeful of securing final approval from council, for what he believes is a critically important project.

"What we are attempting to achieve is to create a strong brand positioning in our key target markets of Sydney and Canberra, and then covert this in to increased visitation and of course increased tourism dollars," Mr Harman said.

"This is not currently in place and the consumer does not clearly understand what the Southern Highlands has to offer.

The engagement of an industry expert is required to achieve what at first glance appears to be a straightforward project.

TSH will require an experienced and highly skilled person, with a track record in successfully re-positioning and re-branding a regional tourism product, raising the profile of that region and converting this in to increased visitation. They will also need to exhibit a high degree of exposure in destination tourism marketing.

In a very significant step, TSH has recently received confirmation from Tourism NSW that the Southern Highlands will be included in the "Sydney Surrounds" campaign umbrella and marketed in the mix of short break destinations such as the Hunter Valley and the Blue Mountains.