A RESCISSION motion will be put before council to overturn a decision to pull funding from Tenterfield’s peak tourism body.
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Tenterfield Shire councillors opted to pull annual funding from the Tenterfield and District Visitors Association during their March meeting.
The TDVA had requested an annual contribution of $30,000 to keep the Tenterfield Visitors Centre operational into the future.
The decision to cull funding has been met with mixed reaction.
The tourism body’s president Peter Brier-Mills said the move had “severed the spine of Tenterfield tourism” and is still hopeful of a change of heart.
The TDVA held a committee meeting on Monday night to discuss the group’s future.
“Our fiscal responsibility is beyond reproach and having this wonderful organisation continue will be of tremendous benefit to all,” he said.
Mr Brier-Mills said they needed surety that this deliberation wasn't set to become an annual scuffle.
“We’re trying to avoid having this happen every 12-months,” he said.
Some councillors have sought to rip up the current agreement with the TDVA and have council assume control of the visitor’s centre.
Mr Brier-Mills said it was an ill-thought out plan.
“They haven’t got a snowballs chance in hell – we don’t want this to fall into insincere hands.”
The group have been accused of not supporting businesses outside the Tenterfield town – an accusation Peter isn't buying.
Cr Gary Verri said the group had left areas of the shire “out in the cold” and weren't fulfilling their role in promoting every element of Tenterfield.
“I think that is so untrue,” Mr Brier-Mills said.
“All our membership renewals have been renewed and some new ones have signed up – the border is not the Great Wall of China – we’re all part of the Granite Border area as far as I’m concerned.”
He said the visitors centre stocked ample amounts of information pertaining to businesses and sites outside of town.
“We want to know what councils plans are if they knock us on the head.
“This is scary for me – I love this town. If you’re a fair dinkum councillor you’ll listen to both sides of the discussion,” Mr Brier-Mills said.
Council will again discuss the proposals at their April 22 meeting and Peter said he expected “half of Suncorp (stadium) to be there”.
