Mr Russell Northe, MP
Minister for Small Business
Level 16, 121 Exhibition Street
Melbourne, Victoria, 3000
 

Dear Mr Northe

Closure of Mallacoota Parks Victoria Office

The Mallacoota Progress Association Inc. (MPA), which represents over 40 business owners or operators in Mallacoota, is concerned about the impact on our town’s businesses due to Parks Victoria’s changing policy on face-to-face interactions with the public.

To quote from Parks Victoria’s parkweb site: “Mallacoota is located in Far East Gippsland and surrounded by Croajingolong National Park.” All plans for Mallacoota’s future economic development have as their basis the unique selling point of our town’s setting within this wilderness area and emphasise that environmental tourism is to be developed in accordance with the Mallacoota Urban Design Framework, by promoting the “use of Croajingolong National Park and other natural assets, through the establishment of a well-located and effective Visitor Information/Interpretive Centre within the town centre”, which would provide world class interpretation of Croajingolong and other nearby parks, and would have state of the art interpretive information on marine and land based natural systems as well as the history of Aboriginal and European occupation and activities. This centre was to have booking facilities for guided tours and children’s activities, and complementary commercial booking facilities for accommodation and tours, along with the incorporation of café and restaurant facilities to help offset operating costs.

However, despite such a facility being seen as vital to enhance tourism in Mallacoota, the existing Parks Victoria Office in Mallacoota has now been closed to the public. In former times, the Parks Office here had two officers available to give visitors information, answer questions, make suggestions and very importantly, receive feedback. This was reduced to one person several years ago, then to one person on a part time basis, and for some time now, no Parks Victoria officer at all.

As you would expect, many businesses best maximise their potential when visitors to the town make the most of their personal interests while staying here. While Parks Victoria will be able to streamline many aspects of their communications with the public, many of the visitors to our town and the surrounding National Parks seek personal contact and many are not fluent users of hand held technology.

The closure of the Parks Office has happened without consultation with our members as to the detrimental impacts on their businesses, which have already been felt. We are requesting that as Minister for Small Business you look into how the decision to end Parks Victoria’s services was taken, and what measures can be taken to remedy this situation to help ensure Mallacoota’s economic viability.

We look forward to your response.

Regards

MA Bartholomew
President MPA