The Terrigal Plaza Hotel has been ordered to pay more than $53,000 in fines and professional costs, and had a guilty conviction recorded for four principal offences, under the NSW Food Act 2003 in Gosford Local Court on Tuesday 24 March 2026.
They were charged the maximum monetary penalty available in a Local Court hearing of $10,000 for each of the four offences, as well as $13,000 in professional costs and a $342 court costs levy.
The charges against the Central Coast company, trading as Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific, related to various hygeine offences with links to a Salmonella foodborne illness outbreak in December 2022 and included sale of unsafe food.
76 people from across NSW, Queensland and the Northern Territory fell ill with symptoms of food poisoning after a conference held at the venue.
40 of those people were confimed as having Salmonella infections.
The NSW Food Authority investigated the incident in collaboration with NSW Health.
The hotel volunterily closed the kitchen as a precaution.
The closure was also formalised through a Prohibition Order issed under the Food Act 2003 preventing the use of one kitchen.
NSW Food Authority Compliance officers visited the venue to collect samples and conducted a detailed investigation into the cause of the outbreak, which resulted in this prosecution action.
During the investigation, fruit and vegetables were seen being stored in red tubs that were designated meat tubs.
A thermometer was used to check the internal temperature of a hard cheese stored in the "cheese fridge" and returned a reading of 8.2 degrees.
NSW Food Authority Acting CEO Andrew Davies said:
"This incident highlights why food safety is so important. 33 people presented to hospital or the emergency department after eating food served at this facility. Another 18 sought alternative healthcare.
"Consumers have the right to be confident the food they eat is safe and has been produced and prepared in a clean and sanitary environment."
