Narrabri Shire’s tourism industry is a vibrant one with a growing number of visitors each year enjoying district attractions and bringing money into the shire.
Visitor numbers tabled at last meeting of the shire council revealed that 2260 people dropped in to the Tourist Information Centre in Tibbereena Street during March compared with 1834 last year.
“And the number of visitors has continued to climb,” reported Narrabri Shire tourism manager Penny Jobling.
“Our April figures aren’t completed yet, but are well and truly up and will show an increase on the number of April 2013 visitors as well.”
There have been many young families coming into the shire.
“There are lots of people on the road,” said Penny.
“This time of year is our visitor harvest.
“Many are travelling north and drop in to the information centre.
“Then in September they are going the other way, heading south.”
The Boggabri Drovers’ Campfire and Nosh on the Namoi have been two big drawcards.
Multiple initiatives from the Visitor Information Centre are building tourism in Narrabri Shire.
One of which caters for the bird lover fraternity, a surprisingly large segment of the population, and a mobile one.
Birdwatchers will travel long distances to observe the local bird
life.
North West NSW is a popular area for the ‘birders’ or ‘twitchers.’
“A lot of of birders are coming to the shire,” said Penny.
“We endeavour to encourage them to stay in the shire as long as possible, using local accommodation, eating out and visiting shops.
The visitor centre, in conjunction with the Local Land Service’s Mitchell Palmer and natural resources consultant James Faris, who was
contracted by CMA, has compiled a comprehensive bird brochure, detailing the species which live in and around the Narrabri West Lake and Yarrie
Lake.
The compilation of the brochures has been a long term project.
“Development of birdwatching is one of the elements on our shire
strategic tourism plan,” said
Penny.
“We have been fortunate to be able to partner with the former Catchment Management Authority (CMA) now merged into the Local Land Services, to create the
brochure.
“All the local species are listed, all the birds which can be spotted, plus
information on the area, and the walking track people can follow.
“For example, with the Yarrie Lake bird brochure we have a full list of species, a map, information on the
vegetation, the geology, the woodland, the lake itself and the
wetlands.
“The West Lake brochure has
information on species on the weir area, the mud flats, and the
water. The lake brochure draws on information from our bird experts and the Kamilaroi people, incorporating the Kamilaroi cultural values
there.
“And we are now preparing a bird brochure for the Bellata-Millee area.
“Leah McKinnon from LLS and James Faris are compiling the
brochure, we will have information signage in the area and we are thinking about a special launch of the publication.
“Anyone is welcome to come along and pick up one of our bird brochures at the Narrabri Shire Visitor Information Centre.”