Following news first reported by Sunbury Life that the town’s council-run visitor information centre is to shut down, Hume City mayor Jarrod Bell has defended the behind-closed-doors decision.
Following rumours of its closure, council confirmed last week the volunteer-run service at the Macedon St Global Learning Centre (GLC) will shut in June – the end of the financial year. Council plans to share visitor and tourist information via an Instagram account.
Following confirmation of the decision, Cllr Bell issued a letter stating he’d received a “…number of messages from community members deeply saddened by [the] news”.
“I want to take a moment to share some thoughts in my personal capacity, as your local councillor and a proud Sunbury resident,” wrote Cllr Bell.
Without stating a figure, he said running an accredited visitor information centre has “significant costs-compliance, training, staff support, and reporting requirements”.
“What’s also clear is that the nature of the service has changed over time,” he said.
“The majority of what these volunteers do today isn’t focused on traditional visitor servicing. Instead, they’ve become more like community concierges. Helping people navigate the GLC, feel welcome, and connect with local services.
“That’s why I’ve been advocating, and will continue to advocate, for those volunteers who wish to remain involved to have a place within a refreshed model of community support at the GLC.
“This is currently being explored by council, and I’ll keep pushing to ensure the heart of what makes this service so special isn’t lost.”
Social media posters made their views clear:
Sunbury councillor and Hume City mayor Jarrod Bell.
Jarrod we as a community need more transparency about your decision to close down the Information Centre here in Sunbury. Put it back in the old Courthouse and I’m sure the public will appreciate it, like they used to!
Another example of Sunbury’s irrelevance to Hume. The information centre should never have been moved. 150 year anniversary of The Ashes this year and we have nothing to show.
There’s nothing better than dropping into an information centre and talking to passionate locals and places to see in their home town.
I’m a past volunteer at the Sunbury Information Centre, I gladly helped out there for five years, when it was located at the old Courthouse. When Hume decided to move it, I thought why would you do that. No one knows where it is now located. By being on Sunbury Rd everyone knew where it was. Visitors coming into Sunbury always dropped in, even people in Sunbury knew that we would help. I’m so disgusted and disappointed with what you have said. You state you are a proud Sunbury boy, well stand up for Sunbury, you are the mayor now. Move it back to the old Courthouse!
Council has been asked for the annual cost of running the town’s visitor information centre, and if any other centre are being closed in Hume City.
Bellow, Cllr Bell’s visitor information centre letter.
