AN INDEPENDENT consultant has recommended dramatically scaling back services at the Lady Nelson Visitor and Discovery Centre following a comprehensive review of the city’s visitor information services.
A report received by Mount Gambier City Council this month outlined a number of recommendations to improve the city’s visitor services, including the decommission of the iconic Discovery Centre and repurpose of the 30-year-old building.
Council has spent $650,000 improving the facility in the last five years with the rebuild of the replica Lady Nelson brig in 2012 and construction of a permanent bus shelter in 2013.
Operating expenses at the Lady Nelson Discovery Centre and adjoining Visitor Information Centre cost council $595,404 in 2015/16, with revenues of only $75,042 for a net annual cost of $520,362.
City Council’s general manager of city growth Judy Nagy yesterday told The Border Watch council was yet to endorse the report.
“The consultants engaged with councillors, Tourism Mount Gambier, stakeholders and staff to determine the best options for future delivery of visitor information services,” Ms Nagy said.
“The report outlines a number of alternative options and although the report has been received by council’s standing committee, none of these options have been endorsed.
“Implementing any of the recommendations will depend on funding and will be a collaborative process between council, Tourism Mount Gambier and relevant stakeholders.”
Once the city’s peak tourist centre, total visitation over the last five years has dropped by 11pc from 94,277 in 2011/12 to 74,990 in 2015/16.
Discovery Centre and Visitor Information Centre team leader Lisa Braes said the figures reflected the changing nature of visitor information servicing.
“The report clarified what we have been tossing around for a number of years about the way we would like to move forward,” Ms Braes said.
“Across the state visitor information centres have reported significantly less visitors through the doors – most of the information visitors need is available online.
“Adopting some of the options outlined in this report will allow us to future-proof our role – we want to be leaders in the industry, not followers.”
Ms Braes welcomed a proposed tiered approach to Visitor Information Services, with paid and volunteer staff located at the Lady Nelson, Main Corner and in a mobile unit for festivals and events.
“We already have that mobile presence at tourism events and we can certainly expand on that with a caravan or popup,” she said.
Ms Nagy said council would consider the report and develop a masterplan for the site.
“Essentially the report will focus our attention and will allow us to determine where our priorities lie,” Ms Nagy said.
“Council may decide repurposing the building is not an immediate priority.
“If any of the recommendations were implemented it would be a rolling process over a number of years.”
