Citizen jury and bid to improve operating efficiency prompts co-location of visitor centre and art gallery

Geraldton Visitor Centre will reopen on Monday with reduced hours and in August be relocated to Geraldton Regional Art Gallery.

Geraldton councillors made the decision to locate the visitors services with the art gallery at the May council meeting, based on recommendations from the City’s Community Voice Project and a citizens jury.

The City of Greater Geraldton announced today the relocation would take place in August.

City of Greater Geraldton mayor Shane Van Styn said the community had recommended the co-location because it wanted to see efficiencies and a decrease in the level of service provided by the Geraldton Visitor Centre.

He likened visitor centres to CD shops, saying things were changing and the City had to stay current and reinvent its services where possible.

“Visitor services continue to evolve with online platforms such as Trip Advisor, Booking.com and a huge range of other digital methods,” Mr Van Styn said.

He said it was a great outcome to give dual purpose to one of the city’s most historic buildings, which had plenty of parking and would provide “an enhanced experience for people visiting both services”.

The Community Voice Project, launched in 2019, conducted workshops after which a 30-member citizen jury made recommendations about 35 services the City provides, including the co-location of the visitor centre.

The centre will continue to operate on Marine Terrace, on weekdays from 9am to 1pm, until it is re-located in August.