Jim and Kay Wise and Heather and Don Pasterski are all seasoned travellers who have towed caravans all over Australia and they say the Gunnedah VIC is one of the best they have come across.

“It is easily accessible for big rigs with plenty of parking, a wonderful outlook over the Dorothea Mackellar statue and surrounds, the Lions Park, Water Tower Museum and swimming pool all nearby,” Heather Pasterski said.

“We also have the Remembrance Grove and 8th Division Memorial Avenue within walking distance.”

As lifetime residents and ratepayers, Jim and Kay Wise remember the enormous contribution of former Mayor, the late Bill Clegg, who put his own money into the building and made an enormous contribution to the development of tourism in Gunnedah.

“The Visitor Information Centre has operated successfully at its current location since November 1982 and the previous council spent money in 2009 to take it into the next decade, ” Mrs Wise said.

“We have travelled extensively throughout Australia and from what we have seen, the current set-up is perfect for our town.”

Both couples attended the community consultation meeting conducted by council, on November 26, where they say council staff agreed that better signage was needed, but nothing has been done.

“At the meeting it was suggested that more signs be installed advertising the location of the Visitor Information Centre – we have not seen any increase in signs, and here we are now in prime tourist time,” Mrs Pasterski said.

“Caravan park signs on the highway are faded and very few and far between and coming from the Tamworth end there is only one VIC sign, which is too close to the corner for travellers to see in time.

“Maintenance at the current location seems to be lacking – has council already made up its mind and chosen to ignore the wishes of ratepayers?”

Don Pasterski said council’s suggestion that moving the VIC to a location such as the Town Hall would attract more shoppers to the CBD does not make any sense.

“All that is needed is for staff at the Visitor Information Centre to provide a town map, marking where the supermarkets are and where they can find parking for their long vehicle,” he said.

Both couples agreed that it was frustrating trying to find Visitor Information Centres situated in the main shopping areas of other towns because of traffic and insufficient parking for their car and caravans.

They said that in their experience, the best VICs are away from the CBD and easily accessible and above all they do not need to be on the highway.

They said that parking is already at a premium when the tennis courts, The Civic and Town Hall are being used and that the mobility of some Grey Nomads would be a problem if they had to walk from Bloomfield Street.

Both couples pointed to the enormous community effort that saw the current Visitor Information Centre come to fruition as one very strong argument for leaving the VIC where it is.

At the meeting in November council’s reasons for  reviewing the tourism budget and the possible relocation of the centre from ANZAC Park, included the proposed diversion of the highway when the new overpass is built.

The benefits of having council staff in the one location and attracting visitors to the CBD will also be considered along with visitor numbers, digital presence, signage, CBD visitation, highway traffic, parking, grant funding, and alternate uses of the current VIC.

Gunnedah Shire Council will present a  draft report for public comment in April with councillors making a decision in May.

• Gunnedah Shire residents can sign the petition at various locations around the CBD, or offer their support by collecting a copy from Heather Pasterski (6742 2416) or Kay Wise (6742 2668).