Sophie Conlon
A CITY of Mount Gambier councillor is calling for the Blue Lake Welcome Centre to open year round with a tenant taking up a lease to keep council infrastructure operational.
At the April council meeting, councillor Paul Jenner asked what council’s plans were regarding the future of the information centre and if inviting a tenant into the space was possible.
General manager city and community growth Sue La Greca said works on the Crater Lakes Management Plan, of which the centre falls under, had been paused while the Blue Lake/ Warwar Management Plan took place.
“In the interim, council can continue to run the welcome centre, but not currently any additional tenancies,” she said.
“As the Crater Lakes planning continues, this site will be considered further.”
The Blue Lake Welcome Centre shut during the height of the pandemic and, since reopening, has only been operational on weekends and during summer holidays.
Cr Jenner said the building could provide a good business opportunity for the right person.
“It’s frustrating that we, the city, has an asset that is sitting idle, I understand the Lady Nelson has someone up here during summer… but that then puts stress on the organisation trying to staff it where it could, until this management plan is completed, lease it out, even at a small fee, to people here so they can provide information as well as having food and drink for visitor and walkers,” he said.
“It has been shut in my view for too long, yes there was a reason originally why it was done and that’s all be dealt with, so I think it needs to move forward.”
He said there was still an appetite for the centre for tourists and locals alike.
“It’s just a wonderful little facility,” he said.
“I just can’t understand why we have good infrastructure sitting idle waiting for a plan that could take a long time until it’s finished.”
