MOUNT Gambier City Council will begin to transition the city’s visitor information services to a more flexible model in January.
A mobile unit to be used for tourism events, festivals and during peak tourist seasons will be introduced and will serve multiple purposes, including library and gallery outreach programs, community engagement initiatives and a disaster relief station or access point.
Council has also outlined plans to make small changes to the Lady Nelson information centre with a focus on more digital visitor content, however no timeline has been set for the proposed repurposing of the adjoining multimedia discovery centre.
In July, council received a report outlining a number of potential improvements to the city’s visitor information services following a comprehensive review by an independent consultant.
The report recommended council decommission the Lady Nelson Discovery Centre, reduce and adapt services at the existing visitor information centre, maintain the regional bus stop, but automate the sale of bus tickets and formalise visitor information services at the Main Corner.
Council has since developed precinct activation plans for the Lady Nelson to begin the process of refreshing visitor information servicing.
Council will make low cost cosmetic changes to the Lady Nelson centre by March and launch the mobile unit in June.
The mobile unit will be an estimated $150,000 capital expense.
The activation plans do not include the major reconstruction works required for the repurposing of the discovery centre.
