By Jesse Graham
HEALESVILLE traders have rallied against the proposal to move Healesville’s Visitor Information Centre (VIC) further into town, but the new managing body said the matter is open for discussion.
Members of the Healesville Chamber of Commerce gathered at the Healesville VIC on Friday to air concerns about the proposal by Yarra Ranges Regional Marketing Ltd (YRRML) to shift the service.
The VIC, under the proposal, could be moved from the old courthouse building on Harker Street to the Healesville Community Link, after YRRML takes over management on 1 October.
Chamber President Graham Taylor said the VIC was an important service to tourists coming into town and that he had concerns about moving the centre to another location under changes to the management.
“It seems ill thought-out – the old courthouse is an attractive building, it’s the thing tourists want to see and it’s got heritage attached to it,” he said.
“Healesville is a tourist town and they’re putting tourist information as a low priority – it’s crazy.”
He said the Community Link has poor access for those towing boats or caravans through the town, and that patronage numbers could be improved through increased signage.
“It’s a well-suited area – people can bring their caravan or their boat – it’s impossible to get that kind of parking facility in the Healesville Walk car park,” he said.
“There’s a pole on the corner (of Harker Street) which has a sign – people come in and by the time they’ve spotted the pole, they’ve gone past.
“What we’re saying is, improve the signage or do something before you consider moving to the Community Link,” he said.
Mr Taylor said he would be interested in meeting with the YRRML group to discuss the future of the centre, and that he had concerns for the town if the Old Courthouse site was disused.
“The Healesville Chamber wants to sit down and talk … about how we can revisit this before it’s too late.
“If it’s about the cost, they can talk to us about how we can make it better – there’s all sorts of options.”
Interim CEO of YRRML Julie Sampson said the proposal to move has not been confirmed.
“We’re exploring the Healesville Community Link – the new direction of being able to share resources in a community environment is a positive thing,” she said.
“Nothing is set in stone.”
Ms Sampson said there were six signs currently around Healesville advertising the location of the VIC, at the entries to the town from Coldstream, Marysville and Yarra Glen.
“There are appropriate systems in place if signage is an issue – every operator has the right to apply for road signage with the relevant road authority,” she said.
She said that, while discussion about moving to the Community Link had been occurring for some time, YRRML would like to discuss the future and the funding of the VIC with the Healesville Chamber.
“There’s always been discussion about where to relocate – this is not new,” she said.
“If they are looking to expand or help with the running (of the Healesville VIC), we’d love to hear from them.”
The Mail had been contacted earlier in the month by concerned residents who said staff at the Healesville VIC were being handed redundancy notices, but Ms Sampson said it was all part of the change of management.
“Staff had to change their employment contracts from Yarra Valley Regional Tourism Association (YVRTA) to YRRML,” she said.
“We’ve met with staff and volunteers at the VIC – the fact is the visitor information centre is under a new organisation now.”
Ms Sampson said the staff had indeed been given redundancy notices, but were then offered positions under the YRRML group, with reduced hours.
The full-time visitor information centre coordinator will be continuing under the management changes, but Ms Sampson said she has yet to hear back from the part-time booking officers about the hours they wish to work.
“Some people have chosen to retire, and we value the contribution they have made and wish them every success in the future,” she said.
Acting Director of Social and Economic Development with Yarra Ranges council Ali Wastie said that three independent research projects have recommended the relocation of the VIC to a more prominent location.
“YRRML is currently exploring opportunities to relocate to the centre of the Healesville Community Link, and as part of this, is talking with the community volunteers and stakeholders of the tourism centre,” she said.
“The Healesville Community Link receives more than 1,000 visitors each week and offers a number of prominent spaces – this compares to an average of 60 visits per day to the Visitor Centre at its current location.”
She said that any decision regarding the future of the VIC would be made by the YRRML board, as council is not involved in any of the decisions.
“However, as a landlord to the Healesville Community Link, Council would be open to working with YRRML as an opportunity to enhance the vibrancy of the link, should they decide to relocate the VIC there,” she said.
Ms Wastie said that, while the future of the Healesville VIC was being decided, no decision would be made regarding the old courthouse building.
Yarra Valley Railway (YVR) Vice President Brett Whelan said the move away from the old courthouse would be a detriment to the surrounding area, particularly with the finalisation of the railway’s infrastructure in December 2016.
“I guess I’m somewhat confused,” he said.
“Council fully support the development of the railway, but what’s going to become a very important part of the railway and the community’s infrastructure could disappear from this location.
“I’m not sure what’s trying to be achieved by this.”
The development of the railway is set to bring thousands of extra people to the area, which Mr Whelan said would be an important part of Healesville.
“There’s already some parts here that make it work – I imagine, once it’s fully developed and completed, it’s going to become a key piece of infrastructure.
“Moving the centre further into town, I don’t see how it’ll work.”
No plans have officially been made regarding the relocation of the Healesville Visitor Information Centre, but the YRRML website states that the goal for relocation is December.
The proposed change is the result of a Regional Tourism Review report undertaken last month by an independent body.
The report was regarding the restructure options of YRRML and is available online at www.yrrml.com.au.
