The real cost of running Tenterfield’s Visitor Information Centre since Tenterfield Shire Council took over its operation after the Tenterfield and District Visitor Association (TDVA) decamped from the site over funding issues was debated at council’s July meeting on Wednesday.
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Former TDVA executive Peter Reid addressed councillors on the matter before the meeting. He challenged a report on the agenda relating to the cost to ratepayers of council managing the VIC last financial year.
The report states total VIC costs were $114,916.36, out of a total tourism budget of $144,406.17. Mr Reid argued the report didn’t identify the cost of the portion of salaried council staff’s time attributable to overseeing the establishment and running of council’s management of the VIC, nor reflect the cost of the changeover to the community including the loss of volunteer contributions.
When the report itself came up in the meeting agenda, an amendment supported by Councillors Michael Petrie, Don Forbes and Brian Murray – who were against the moves to oust the TDVA 12 months ago – for a more detailed breakdown of running costs was defeated. Report author, corporate services director Allan Shorter, had advised the meeting that the cost of salaried officers had been attributed by a standardised measure, as was the accepted practice across local governments.
Cr Forbes commented that, for a two per cent increase in visitation, the return on council’s investment was “appalling”, and Cr Murray said he was seeking greater transparency in view of the number of community inquiries he had received. Cr Petrie felt that his call 12 months ago for a precise accounting of the costs hadn’t been met.
Cr Toni Hull, on the other hand, raised the point that tourism and economic development accounted for only two per cent of the general fund, “but 58 per cent goes to engineering and no-one queries it”. Cr Mary Leahy was impressed with how low the VIC costings were, and Cr Garry Verri reported that businesses in Legume and Liston were getting visitors directed to them from the VIC for the first time.
