money
A $400,000 visitor information centre will be built in Meredith.
Golden Plains Shire this week ticked the final box towards construction of the centre, which will be built on the main road through the town.
The building tender has been awarded to Ballarat company Q Construction.
Golden Plains mayor Geraldine Frantz said it was an important project for the town which had been in the pipeline for some time.
The Meredith Community Plan had previously outlined the need for tourism to grow in the area and it was decided in March this year that the centre would be built on the main thoroughfare.
However it has met with mixed reactions from businesses, who questioned the need to build a brand new building with a cafe that could potentially detract from local businesses.
The state government committed $300,000 for the project, with the remaining money to come from the council.
“I’m personally delighted it’s moving to construction stage now, it has been a long time coming,” Cr Frantz said.
“It will be great for the community and will help drive up tourism in the area.
“There has been strong community support behind the project so it’s great to finally have it approved.”
However owners of both pubs in the town questioned how many tourists it would actually bring into the town.
Henry’s Corner Meredith Country Hotel manager Mark McNamara said other buildings could have been refurbished for a much lower price.
“It’s hard to say how many more tourists it is actually bring in. I guess we will have to wait and see,” he said.
The information centre will include historic information, technological interaction, space for community groups, public toilets and on-site parking.
A construction date has not yet been set.
patrick.nolan@thecourier.comn.au