Council will decide on a new location for the Visitor Information Centre on Wednesday
THE former State Bank in Sturt Street could be Ballarat's new Visitor Information Centre.
Three other options - the Ballarat Town Hall, the Mining Exchange and St Andrew's Church - were also shortlisted in a report for Ballarat City Council by consultants Urban Enterprise.
The council will vote at tomorrow's night meeting on the four sites.
However, Mayor Mark Harris said yesterday it was still possible the centre may one day be located at the Civic Hall, which has been a major push through the Mair Street site's community consultation process.
"The reality is the Civic Hall is not ready for the Visitor Information Centre yet," Cr Harris said.
"But we are not disavowing the fact it could go there in the future."
In the report, project manager Rebecca Love said the former bank building was the best option due to its ample floor space, its prime CBD location, the availability of car parking, the bank's heritage appeal, its favourable lease terms and it would only require a minimal fit-out as it is currently being used as offices.
"The (Visitor Information) Centre has a significant impact upon precinct activity and is expected to breath new life into a part of Sturt Street that has suffered from a lack of activity over recent years," Ms Love said.
She said the centre's estimated direct and indirect expenditure impact to the Ballarat economy was $26.9 million per annum, with 241 direct and indirect jobs also created annually.
"It is for this reason that the CBD location is vital for the Visitor Information Centre and the Ballarat economy."
Ms Love also said parking would be upgraded around the site, including half hour parking restrictions near the centre and providing two caravan parking spaces in Camp Street.
Other options considered by the study included the Civic Hall, the former post office at the corner of Lydiard and Sturt streets, the goods shed or north platform building at the Ballarat Railway Station, the Provincial Hotel in Lydiard St and a generic CBD shop front.
Cr Harris said a site decision needed to be made soon due the centre's current Lydiard Street lease running out in November next year.
