Bridgetown council approves relocation of visitor centre to historic railway station

The Bridgetown-Greenbushes shire council unanimously approved a proposal to relocate the current visitor centre to the Bridgetown railway station during their recent council meeting on Thursday. The approved officer recommendation for the proposal included a set relocation completion date for November 1, an approved transfer of up to $67,500 from the Land and Buildings Reserve to fund the fitout and relocation costs of the visitor centre to the Bridgetown Railway Station and a reduction of the allocation for the ‘Bridgetown Visitor Centre’ in the 2022/23 budget from $365,000 to $132,500, noting the amended amount included the transfer but a proposed $300,000 loan will not be drawn. The fitout and interpretive plans for the Railway Station as the visitor centre include two floor spaces for visitor services, a room as a permanent gallery space and another room as a rotation gallery space for short-term exhibitions, an office for the visitor centre manager, public toilets and a multi-use space on the platform of the railway building. The council invited members of the public to provide feedback on the proposal via either discussing with councillors and staff at two sessions held at the community kiosk, completing a feedback form or emailing the Shire. Forty-seven out of 50 people providing feedback expressing full support for the proposal, while three raised concerns about the visibility of the building to tourists passing in the area, but also recognised the signage proposed to the building would hope to reduce the concerns brought up. Talks will commence between shire CEO Tim Clynch and the Bridgetown Greenbushes Business & Tourism Association about lease tenure, conditions of occupancy and management and operation partnerships with other tenants, including Bridgetown Community Landcare and the annual festival Blues at Bridgetown, as a part of the officer’s recommendations approved in the meeting.