State Government gives WA Country Visitor Centres a funding boost

24/6/02
Western Australian Country Visitor Centres have been given a $285,000 funding boost with the announcement today of the successful applicants for the Country Visitor Centres Sustainability Enhancement Scheme (CVCSES) by Parliamentary Secretary Ken Travers, representing Tourism Minster Clive Brown.
The CVCSES is part of a State Government election commitment that promised $2 million over four years to WA Regional Visitor Centres to support visitor servicing in country areas.
Of a total $500,000 available in 2001-2002, $285,000 was allocated for projects that would enhance the long-term sustainability of Visitor Centres in WA and $130,000 has already been allocated to subsidise visitor centre membership of the WA Tourism Network.
The remaining $85,000 will be carried forward to boost the allocation for next year's scheme.
Mr Travers said the scheme would support visitor centres providing vital on-the-ground services to tourists in regional WA.
"The Government recognises the very important role that country visitor centres play in the overall tourism mix," he said.
"Information and access to information have a major impact on visitors' experience of WA.
"And in turn the more they enjoy their experience, the more likely it is that they will return, and tell their friends and family.
"With 59 per cent of all visitors to WA accessing regional areas, it is vital that professionally managed visitor centres exist throughout the State and are able to supply quality up-to-date information."
Under the scheme, WA Country Visitor Centres are eligible to apply for up to $10,000 to enhance their long-term sustainability. Additional dollar-for-dollar funding is required to support these applications.
Up to $100,000 is available for applications that enhance the long-term sustainability of Visitor Centres in WA generally. A maximum of $200,000 a year will be allocated to funding applications of this type. Applications will require additional funding of 50 cents to the dollar.
There were 25 successful applications from a total of 35. They include: Harvey, Bunbury, Kalgoorlie Boulder, Derby, Augusta, Margaret River, Kalbarri, Pemberton, Balingup, Northam, Pinjarra, Carnarvon, Narrogin, Ravesthorpe, Mandurah, Dwellingup, Collie, Broome, Port Hedland, Kojonup, Denmark, Busselton, Dunsborough, Karratha and York.
An application by the Visitor Centre Association WA and a joint submission from 21 Visitor Centres in the South-West and Great Southern Regions were successful in the multiple organisation category. The Visitor Centre Association WA application was to fund the Top Tourism Town Awards for 2002-03 and the joint submission from 21 Visitor Centres was for benchmarking of Visitor Centres to establish priorities and deliver appropriate training programs to enhance long-term sustainability.
Applications for 2002-2003 will be called by September 30. The closing date for the first round of funding in 2002 is November 30.
SUCCESSFUL APPLICATIONS:

• Harvey District Tourist Bureau Inc: $10,000

Signage and Harvey Visitor Guide
Funding recommended $10,000 incl GST.

• Bunbury Visitor Centre: $10,000

Electronic Booking / Reservation System
Funding recommended $10,000 incl GST.

• Kalgoorlie Boulder Tourist Centre Inc: $11,000

Upgrade of Kalgoorlie Boulder Web Site
Monthly Kalgoorlie Boulder Events and Activities Guide
Funding recommended $11,000 incl GST.

• Derby Tourist Bureau Inc: $3,690.75

Purchase of Computer plus Software and Technical Support
Funding recommended $3,690.75 incl GST.

• Augusta Visitor Centre: $10,000

New Image - Internal Display Poles, Internal Display Panels, Exterior Improvements, Brochure Stands, Tourist Map Production, Module Retail Display Units
Funding recommended $10,000 incl GST.

• Margaret River Visitor Centre: $10,000

New Image - Internal Display Poles, Wall Signs, External Banners, Visitor Car Park Signs, Central Module Display Unit, Internal Functionality
Funding recommended $10,000 incl GST.

• Kalbarri Tourist Bureau Inc: $4,400

Computers for Booking System
Funding recommended $4,400 incl GST.

• Pemberton Visitor Centre Inc: $10,000

Improved Visibility - Signage, Improved Merchandise and Information Display Cabinets, Protection of Merchandise and Museum Displays.
Funding recommended $10,000 incl GST.

• Balingup and Districts Tourism Association Inc: $1,919.65

Office Equipment Upgrade - Computer Equipment/Software and Phone
Funding recommended $1919.65 (GST not applicable).

• Town of Northam for the Northam Tourist Bureau: $11,000

Northam Event Facilitator
Funding recommended $11,000 inc GST.

• Pinjarra Tourist Centre Inc: $4,500

Business Development Plan
Funding recommended $4,500 inc GST.

• Carnarvon Tourist Bureau Inc: $2,574

Upgrade Computer and New Visitor Chairs
Funding recommended $2,574 incl GST.

• Narrogin and Districts Tourist Bureau Inc: $2,381

Internet Connected Computer System.
Funding recommended $2381 GST not applicable.

• Ravensthorpe and Hopetoun Area Promotions Inc: $11,000

Co-location of Ravensthorpe Visitor Information Centre and Museum.
Funding recommended $11,000 inc GST.

• Mandurah Visitor Centre: $4,700

Visitor Centre Assessment
Funding recommended $4,750 incl GST.

• Dwellingup Visitor Centre: $10,000

Wall for Peel VCs, Display and Promotional Material, Brochure
Funding recommended $10,000 incl GST.

• Collie Visitor Centre Inc: $1,454.20

Door counter and Shelving for Merchandise
Funding recommended $1454.20 incl GST.

• Port Hedland Visitor Centre: $3,100

Upgrading Retail Area
Funding recommended $3,100 incl GST.

• Kojonup Tourist Association Inc: $10,000

Road Signage and Banners (directing tourists to the Visitor Centre)
Funding recommended $10,000 incl GST.

• Denmark Tourist Bureau Inc: $550

Web Site
Funding recommended $550 incl GST.

• Busselton Tourist Bureau Inc: $8,714.50

Computerised Reservation System, Display Unit
Funding recommended $8,714.50 incl GST.

• Dunsborough Tourist Bureau Inc: $8,772 incl GST

Computerised Reservation System, Display Unit
Funding recommended $8,772 incl GST.

• Karratha and Districts Tourist Information Centre Inc: $4,743.75

Five-Year Strategic Business Plan
Funding recommended $4,743.75 incl GST.

• York Tourist Bureau Inc: $6,410

York Destination Video with Digital Links to Web Site
Funding recommended $6,410 incl GST.

• Visitor Centre Association of Western Australian Inc (VCAWA):

$55,000 2002 Top Tourist Town Awards
Funding recommended $55,000 incl GST.

• Visitor Centres in the South-West and Great Southern.

Endorsed by Visitor Centre Association of Western Australia
Managed by Tourism South West/ Great Southern Regional Tourism Association: $99,000
Best Practice Guidelines/ Training for South-West Visitor Centres.
Funding recommended $99,000 incl GST.