Narrabri Shire Council is seeking community input into a consultants’ draft report into the development of the tourism industry in the shire.

In the draft plan, the consultant notes that Narrabri Shire has a strong and growing visitor economy, but much can be done to build it further.

Narrabri Shire is already a well-established destination.

“In 2018, the shire attracted an estimated 246,000 visitors, 144,000 of whom stayed one or more nights in the shire, with 102,000 being day visitors,” the consultants reported.

“Overnight visitors spent 429,000 nights in the shire.

“Visitors injected $53.052 million into the local economy.

“The tourism sector employs an estimated 327 people and has an output of $61.797 million and a value-add of $28.84 million.

The draft blue print for the future of shire tourism, the draft Narrabri Region Tourism Destination Management Plan 2021/2025, is on public exhibition until June 2 and can be seen at council’s administration building, Narrabri Region Visitor Information Centre, at any of council’s shire libraries and on council’s website.

“The draft plan is a key strategic document in building and managing the council’s visitor economy,” director of corporate and community services, Lindsay Mason said.

“The draft plan has been developed through extensive stakeholder and community consultation in 2020 by council’s tourism and community development department.

“The plan will provide the direction and framework to drive the Narrabri Shire’s tourism sector forward over the next five years.

“The main goal of the plan is to increase visitor presence and expenditure in the shire to provide economic and social benefits for the Shire community.

“To achieve this the plan focuses on ensuring the infrastructure, facilities and services needed to attract and support visitation is in place.”

The plan is a comprehensive document.

“Visitor markets are changing,” the report says.

“There is strong and growing interest in, and visitation to, regional areas.”

The plan is a shire-wide appraisal, but looking at Narrabri, the consultants made several observations and suggestions for improvement.

Interested residents will find much to consider.

A handful of the elements in the 163 page study are listed.

Several observations were made around the shopping precinct.

The ‘un-inspiring presentation of the highway corridor’ was noted.

“The Tibbereena Street section, around 700m, presents better, particularly the section between the Visitor Information Centre (VIC) and The Crossing Theatre,” the consultants said.

“There is no strong visual nor safe physical link between the VIC, and the shopping centre.

“Lloyd Street does not present well, and the Newell Highway is a significant barrier, particularly for families with young children, older people and people with mobility issues.

“Angle parking in the town centre with no designated, and sign posted, areas for caravan and long rig parking.

“VIC staff advise caravanners to leave their rig in the VIC carpark and walk across to the shopping centre. However, some travellers are reluctant to cross the highway.

“For caravans arriving in Narrabri from the south, the town centre is signposted at Doyle Street (before they reach the VIC) and if they turn into Doyle Street and then into Maitland Street, there is no opportunity to park in the main street or adjoining side streets.

“Narrabri is the gateway to the Mt Kaputar National Park.

“However, there is no signage promoting this within the gateway entry corridors, with limited directional signage to the park at the Tibbereena – Dangar Street intersection.

“Signage to other visitor attractions surrounding Narrabri is also limited, with no signage to Yarrie Lake.

“The Narrabri Creek corridor is under-performing, with dated presentation, limited facilities and lack of connectivity between the parks and reserves along the corridor and between the corridor and other precincts and facilities (eg, the town centre, Narrabri Lake).

“The dump point in Cameron Park, while convenient for travellers, does deter use of the park’s picnic facilities.

“The implementation of the Narrabri Tourism Precinct Masterplan will improve the appeal of the corridor in the VIC – Crossing Theatre area.”

The report suggests:

  • Build on the gateway signage project by improving landscaping and other signage at the town entry points and along the highway corridor.
  • Explore options to raise the profile of Mount Kaputar National Park and other attractions in the Narrabri region.
  • Signpost the availability of caravan parking at the VIC at strategic locations within the town centre and along the highway corridor.
  • Implement the Narrabri Tourism Precinct Masterplan as a priority; and build on the this by providing a safe, attractive link between this precinct and the shopping centre.
  • Extending and linking the proposed river walk-cycleway further along the creek to the Riverside Caravan Park and RSL Club and to the shopping centre, Narrabri Lake and golf club.
  • Installing public art to create points of interest within the creek corridor and other strategic locations within the town.
  • Continue to improve the Narrabri VIC, with the information centre positioned as an attraction in its own right.
  • Work with retail community to activate the main street through footpath dining and trading, temporary and permanent art installations and events and promotional activities.
  • Provide marketing support, including quirky on-line PR campaigns significantly raising the profile of local businesses that are likely to be attractive to travellers and will bring regional residents into town.

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