STAY A WHILE AND STOP, REVIVE, SURVIVE IN WELLINGTON
Dubbo Regional Council (DRC) has announced investment to support the visitor economy in Wellington in time for the Christmas school holiday migration from the city, with the Wellington Visitor Information Centre being established as the first permanent Driver Reviver site in the Dubbo Region LGA.
With the important role of reducing driver fatigue and encouraging the visitor drive market to stop in Wellington, DRC was successful in being awarded funding under Round 2 of the Australian Government’s Driver Reviver Site Upgrades Program. The project received $26,746 to establish the centre as a pivotal stop in the Driver Reviver network.
DRC has used the grant to install two outdoor table settings and a new coffee machine which are already on site, along with a circular bench and new bins which are due to arrive in early 2022.
“The Dubbo LGA is a popular tourist destination, especially with the family drive market,” said Director Culture and Economy Natasha Comber. “Whilst Taronga Western Plains Zoo is a great asset to our region attracting a large number of our travellers, it’s these types of commitments to amenity that will encourage travellers to take a break from their journey through to Dubbo or beyond and enjoy a free cuppa whilst the friendly Information Centre staff tell them about the marvellous experiences right here in Wellington.
“Having the Wellington Visitor Information Centre as an official Driver Reviver rest stop means drivers can plan ahead knowing they have somewhere to stop, grab a coffee and some biscuits, use the amenities and learn more about the whole region before safely going on their way. It’s particularly welcomed going into the Christmas holiday period when we generally see an influx in the drive market.
“The Information Centre is open all year-round except on Christmas Day and the friendly staff will be on hand to offer assistance to travellers as they call in. First and foremost we are proud to be promoting safe travel practices by offering a safe location to break and reduce driver fatigue, but there’s also opportunity for travellers to stay longer and plan to include some Wellington-based experiences such as the caves or local shopping into their trips.”
This is the first permanent Driver Reviver site in the Dubbo LGA and will be supported with additional signage for the Information Centre on the approaching highways. Traffic volumes for both cars and freight vehicles in the LGA have increased by 53 per cent in the five years to 2021, while between 2015 and 2019 there were 867 vehicle crashes where 28 were fatal and 200 were classified as serious.
Wellington’s location on the Mitchell Highway will capture travellers from Sydney to Dubbo and further into Western NSW, allowing drivers to better manage fatigue with the aim of reducing opportunities for road accidents.
Last Edited: 17 Jul 2023