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Week commencing Thursday, 12 June | 2014 | Edition 736 | 16,000 copies delivered free each week
Serving g with honour
Crackerr of a night
Shaking g the stage
Casey’ss Spin on sport
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allocated for updating of displays and capital works. She said “under no circumstances” should they be used for the dayto-day operation of the centre, which went against industry practice. Cr Petty has given assurances the centre, which he described as having being run “very successfully for 20
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Tenterfield Visitors Information Centre co-ordinator Lara Flanagan fears the centre will have to shut up shop if council fails to rectify its controversial decision not to renew its licence agreement with the centre or provide vital funds. Photo: TERRY WEST
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THE Tenterfield Visitors Information Centre could be forced to close its doors next month unless council renews its licence agreement and reinstates funding, centre co-ordinator Lara Flanagan says. A recommendation, put forward by Tenterfield Shire Council general manager Lotta Jackson, that council enter into a further 12-month licence agreement and contribute $36,300 to the centre was narrowly defeated by Tenterfield Shire Council at its ordinary meeting on 21 May - six votes to four. The move has sparked speculation that council has a “hidden agenda” to take over the centre and establish a group of volunteers of their choosing - which allegation mayor Peter Petty has flatly denied. Ms Flanagan said she was “shocked and in disbelief” last month when she learned deputy mayor Gary Verri and councillors Tom Peters, Blair Maxwell, Mary Leahy, Carol Schiffmann and Toni Hull had voted against the motion. “My question to them is why did you think you knew better than the general manager and the mayor to go against those recommendations?” Ms Flanagan said. “As of the 24 (July), we have no right to be in this building as the licence agreement is not renewed... and (with) no financial support being approved by the councillors, it is a very real possibility that the Tenterfield Visitors Information Centre will have to close its doors.” Locals, Cathie and Peter BrierMills, who are about to embark on a
new homestay venture, said having a physical point of contact for visitors was integral to the wellbeing of the shire. “We are literally crossing our fingers for a reversal of a decision made by a few, which will affect so many people here in Tenterfield and even nationally”, Mrs Brier-Mills said. “We trust common sense will prevail so that the tourist and visitor centre will remain open, not just for the citizens of Tenterfield but also for the Australian public interested in our historic federation town.” But a number of councillors have hit back, defending their decision. Cr Leahy said upon studying the Tenterfield Visitor Association’s profit and loss statement, she was “not actually convinced” the centre required ratepayers’ funds. “I was in favour of renewing their lease and moved an amendment for that, but unfortunately the amendment to renew their lease was lost so in the end we voted against everything,” Ms Leahy said. Cr Tom Peters echoed Cr Leahy’s sentiments. “As far as I know, they have $100,000 in the bank and can use their own money and that’s the reason we voted that way,” he said. “They can come back to council again and ask for money when they have used some of their own money and that’s why I voted against it. That’s the only reason I voted against the motion the general manager put up.” When asked, Ms Flanagan acknowledged the centre did have funds in the bank, but said they were
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