The Cootamundra Visitors Information Centre (VIC) will no longer be manned under a plan to move it from the Arts Centre to the Heritage Centre.
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Arts Centre management committee chairman Paul Braybrooks informed Gundagai Council recently they were only able to open the VIC for four hours each day as the funding from council no longer covered the staff wages to operate for a longer time.
“Whenever the Arts Centre is manned and open for other functions, I am sure the VIC questions from visitors will be answered, but we can only guarantee being open for fours hours each day,” Mr Braybrooks said.
“However, we do understand this is neither the level of expected service nor does it comply with the current VIC standards, but we hope council will appreciate the need to act to reduce the pressing extra costs being experienced by the Arts Centre,” he continued.
In response to this change of circumstances by the Arts Centre, Gundagai Council staff have taken the opportunity to review council’s visitor information services, and develop a revised Visitors Information Strategy, which has now been formally adopted by administrator Christine Ferguson.
The revised strategy will involve a map and brochure set-up in a room currently used for storage adjacent to the Heritage Centre.
The room has separate access to the centre off the same front veranda.
It is anticipated if people wish to speak to someone they will pop next door to the Heritage Centre and do so with a volunteer.
This serves the dual purpose of bringing visitors through the door of the Heritage Centre.
Council will fit out the visitor’s space with photo panel displays, a large map displaying key locations and brochure racks with priority visitor information.
Gundagai Council’s Kate Monaghan explained the new strategy is a cost-effective way to ensure visitor services remain in the town.
With approximately 4,500 visitors each year passing through the Arts Centre VIC, Ms Monaghan said council must look at the cost per visitor of delivering a VIC elsewhere.
Currently $43,478 is budgeted for visitor services each year by council and this amount will remain.
It is recommended by council that part of this funding be provided to the Heritage Centre Committee to fund museum projects, and that the remainder be available for additional tourism promotions and projects, such as building enhancements at Bradman’s Cottage, training for volunteers and tourism operators, village promotions, brochure and tourism website development.
The new Heritage Centre plan will become effective as of July 1 this year.