Advocate, LIBBY BINGHAM, p.14 – 23 Aug 2014

THE future of the Tiagarra Museum and Cultural Centre at Mersey Bluff is being decided behind closed doors at Monday night’s Devonport City Council meeting.
The council will consider its future commitment to Tiagarra and whether to reopen the tourist attraction for three days a week on a volunteer basis.
Devonport City Council community services executive manager Evonne Ewins, said the Six Rivers Aboriginal Corporation wanted to reopen the doors with volunteers before the next tourist season.
Mrs Ewins said the matter was being discussed behind closed doors because it involved a contractual arrangement.
SRAC board member Paul Docking told The Advocate several weeks ago that he’d hoped the centre would attract enough volunteers to open the doors again in September.
The SRAC has met the council to see what support it would provide with the day-to-day operation of Tiagarra.
More than 18 months ago, the SRAC said Tiagarra was not sustainable under the old business model and the doors were closed except to phone bookings.
A stakeholder committee was formed to determine the interest there was in developing a sustainable business model for Tiagarra.
“The SRAC are committed to reopening Tiagarra and the council will consider a proposed new model and its ongoing commitment to Tiagarra on Monday night,” Mrs Ewins said.
“The SRAC wants to open up the facility again to the public and work closely with council to look at further exhibitions and how it could be redeveloped in consultation with the Aboriginal and community stakeholders.
“The SRAC would continue leasing the facility and be responsible for the operation and the committee would provide direction and guidance.
“If the council agrees it would be a transitional approach to taking those small steps and establishing what needs to be done.” The building is owned by the council which maintains it.