There was a fantastic turn out at the Montague Arts and Crafts Society feedback session on its take over of the Narooma visitor information centre held at Club Narooma on Thursday afternoon.
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There were 40 people, many tourism-related business operators including motel and charter boat owners, who RSVP’d to attend and also present were council tourism staff and councillors Neil Burnside and Liz Innes.
“We are working through the business plan but already have a number of ideas like showcasing a local artist each month,” MACS visitor centre committee chairperson Christine Macauley AM said. “We are excited about the opportunities and want the community from Narooma down to Tilba to feel they have ownership of the centre.”
There were already 25 volunteers who had signed up to staff the centre, while three of the existing council employees at the centre had also applied for paid positions, she said.
She explained it would be a mix of volunteers and paid staff operating the centre for MACS, but the budget was limited for salaries, so exact numbers and details were yet to be worked out. The committee also visited Naooma High School to encourage participation of work experience students.
Eight MACS committee members were also about to undergo training on the operation of a visitor centre through the council, and Mrs Macauley thanked council staff and in particular Kerrie-Anne Benton for her support throughout the transition phase.
Clr Neil Burnside said MACS taking over the visitor centre was the “best outcome” and he was pleased to see so many people at the feedback session and wanting to get involved. Clr Liz Innes said she just had to come down from the Bay as she knew how difficult it had been for the community to accept the change and very pleased to see some of the initial opponents present.
MACS will take over operations of the Narooma visitor centre from May 17 with an official launch ceremony planned for Saturday, May 21 and mayor Lindsay Brown will be the key speaker.
MACS thanks those who have already volunteered and are interested in becoming “Friends of Narooma VIC” and ambassadors for the region, and we encourage people to join them at the Narooma Visitor Information Centre, she said. For more information, call Christine Macauley on 0429 806 939.