NORTHERN Grampians Shire Council's decision to seek another operator for Halls Gap's Visitor Information Centre (VIC) was as a result of its Tourism Services Review.
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The comprehensive report also contained enhanced models of operation for VICs at Stawell and St Arnaud with councillors resolving to keep close to the status quo at both locations.
The only potential service alteration for Stawell is that it operate as a 'non accredited' centre and open on reduced days (during quieter periods) thereby reducing the demand on volunteers and potentially reducing the cost to Council without significant loss of visitation.
Northern Grampians Shire Council's Director Economic and Community, Jim Nolan said the tourism sector is the fourth largest employer in the Northern Grampians Shire and is subsidised by Council in the order of $420,000 per annum of which about $350,000 is through the provision of information services to visitors.
"Whilst there has been attempts to keep the net operating cost to Council down over recent years, and particularly through the use of volunteers at Stawell and St Arnaud, the level of funding from Council necessary to provide the service on current service levels is in the order of $330,000 to $350,0000," he said.
"While the Northern Grampians unit costs compare favourably with the state averages, some change is necessary if the 2014/2015 budget is to be achieved."
Stawell's VIC, which has been located in the Stawell Gift Hall of Fame building, Seaby street since 2010 is operated principally by volunteers and coordinated by Council staff. Staff operate the centre about one day per week.
Council's Tourism Services Review deemed key advantages to maintaining the same level of service at Stawell were continued low cost of operation due to volunteer effort, the high degree of local ownership and significant benefits to the Stawell Athletics Club and access by visitors to the historic displays.
Mr Nolan said tourism makes an important contribution to the Shire economy with the direct and indirect annual output of tourism in the Grampians region in the order of $224 million.
“Within the Northern Grampians Shire, tourism generates $78 million (5.7 percent) of output, and supports 472 (9.9 percent) jobs,” he said.
“The economic benefit is driven by 793,000 domestic overnight visitors spending more than 2.14 million nights, 34,200 international overnight visitors and 1,102,000 domestic day trip visitors.”
Mr Nolan said that any change in the numbers of visitors to the region can not reasonably be measured against the performance of a VIC in encouraging visitors to stay longer.
For example, during the 12 month period to the end of June 2014 domestic visitation to the Grampians region rose by 4.4 percent and domestic overnight stays increased by 4.1 percent.
This is despite the reduced visitation to the Halls Gap VIC (while it was located at Brambuk for much of the period), and the January 2014 bushfires.
“In November 2013 the Halls Gap VIC was temporarily relocated to the Brambuk Cultural Centre to enable
the construction of the Halls Gap Community Hub located in the same precinct as the VIC,” he said.
“The service was supplemented with a mobile booth in the town centre during busy periods.
“For the 10 month period, November 2013 to August 2014, the number of visitors serviced by Northern Grampians Shire Council staff was about 58 percent of visitors accessing the services when compared with the previous year.
“The total number of visitors to Brambuk however increased by 37 percent (up around 40,000) during the colocation period, and Brambuk revenue has increased by around 12 percent.”
Despite the figures appearing to mount a defence for the retention of Halls Gap’s VIC at Brambuk Council resolved to return it to the town’s Hub precinct, once construction works are complete.