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LITTLE fuss was made over the plan as councillors voted unanimously to support the business plan at their November council meeting on Wednesday morning.
Director of Strategic Planning and Environmental Services James Ruprai said they needed to approve the plan in order to obtain ongoing accreditation.
It will now be placed on public exhibition for 28 days with the public encouraged to deliver feedback.
EARLIER:
AFTER assuming control of the Tenterfield Visitors Information Centre in August, council will today lay bare their plans for the centre with the tabling of a business plan.
With the aim of ‘promoting a unified brand’ Tenterfield Shire councillors voted to seize control of the centre from the Tenterfield and District Visitors Association.
The decision was controversial, largely for the lack of a business plan moving forward.
An interim business plan was put in place back in August but council will hope the release of a more concrete blueprint will win over vocal nay-sayers.
According to council the plan will ‘set out the strategic direction and operational objectives for the Visitor Information Centre’.
“The Mission of the Tenterfield Visitor Information Centre is ‘to represent the tourism industry in the district, to provide information for visitors to the region, to encourage engagement from local residents and to ensure a positive and enjoyable experience for all visitors’.”
In the plan council provide a SWOT analysis, detailing what they see are strengths and weaknesses for the shire and centre itself.
Business operators and key stakeholders aided in the compilation.
Staff and volunteers, relationships and partnerships, online presence, branding and marketing and council’s aptitude rate as strengths.
Six weaknesses are highlighted with budget, empty centre, outdated information and shire vastness among them.
Likely to draw most focus is the predicted expenditure for the 2015/16 period.
Council have budgeted $190,940 with those figures inclusive of centre depreciation ($40,740) and Tourism Officer salary.
When it comes to tourism promotion there is only $12,000 set aside while casual staff salaries make up a further $33,000.
Councillors will today vote on whether to approve the plan, a step seen as “vital to ensure the future direction of the visitor centre”.