New displays for visitor centres

The new displays will be a great resource for the estimated one million people expected to go to visitor information centres over summer.

According to research conducted by Sweeney Research in October 2011, people see visitor information centres, along with the CFA and the media as the primary sources for reliable and credible bushfire information when they are travelling away from home.

The research found that people were highly likely to go to local centres to seek out bushfire safety information and local bushfire updates.

Developed by Tourism Victoria in conjunction with the CFA, the new displays show the daily Fire Danger Rating, have the latest updates on local fire restrictions and offer a range of information about fire safety, including local Township Protection Plans.

Gwynne Brennan, CFA Acting Executive Manager Fire Management Planning Services, said that Visitor Information Centres were a great place to go for local advice and encouraged visitors in areas with bush, grasslands or coastal vegetation to look out for the new displays.
 
“We want more people travelling through high risk areas to understand bushfire safety,” she said.
 
“Whether you are travelling for work or enjoying a week-long holiday, you need to be aware every day of any local risks and local fire restrictions.

Accredited visitor information centres play a vital role in welcoming visitors to regional Victoria. There are more than 70 accredited visitor information centres. Each centre is centrally located in regional townships with yellow signage featuring a blue italicised ‘i’ displayed out front.

This initiative is part of Tourism Victoria’s Bushfire Preparedness Program. If you would like more information about the program, contact Sarah Terry, Bushfire Preparedness Manager at Tourism Victoria on (03) 9653 9838 or email sarah.terry@tourism.vic.gov.au

Below is a full list of Visitor Information Centres that feature a bushfire safety display:

Great Ocean Road Visitor Information Centre

Ararat & Grampians Visitor Information Centre

Avoca Visitor Information Centre

Ballarat Visitor Information Centre

Beechworth Visitor Information Centre and Booking Service

Bendigo Visitor Centre

Alpine Visitor Information Centre, Bright

Castlemaine Visitor Information Centre

Maldon Visitor Information Centre

Central Goldfields Visitor Information Centre

Colac Visitor Information Centre

Corryong Visitor Information Centre

Daylesford Regional Visitor Information Centre

Dinner Plain Visitor Information Centre

Frankston Visitor Information Centre

Geelong & Great Ocean Road Visitor Centre

Geelong Visitor Information Centre

Grampians & Halls Gap Visitor Information Centre

Hamilton & Grampians Visitor Information Centre

Dunkeld & Grampians Visitor Information Centre

Heathcote Visitor Information Centre

Inverloch Visitor Information Centre

Kyneton Visitor Information Centre

Lakes Entrance Visitor Information Centre

Bairnsdale Visitor Information Centre

Latrobe Visitor Information Centre

Lorne Visitor Centre

Mansfield Mt Buller High Country Visitor Information Centre

Melbourne Visitor Centre (Federation Square)

Mt Beauty Visitor Information Centre

Myrtleford Visitor Information Centre

Nelson Parks Visitor Information Centre

Phillip Island Information Centre

Wonthaggi Visitor Information Centre

Visitor Information Centre Port Campbell

Port Fairy & Region Visitor Information Centre

Prom Country Information Centre - Foster

Prom Country Information Centre - Korumburra

Rutherglen Wine Experience & Visitor Information Centre

St Arnaud Tourism

Stawell & Grampians Visitor Information Centre

Torquay Visitor Centre

Anglesea Visitor Information Centre

Wangaratta Visitor Information Centre

Werribee Visitor Information Centre

Woodend Visitor Information Centre

Yarra Valley Visitor Information Centre