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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 4 Hansard (3 April) . . Page.. 1436 ..
The Government contacted Mr Russell to discuss issues affecting the museum and suggested that they approach the Canberra Business Advisory Service (CANBAS), a business advisory service funded by the ACT Government to access advice in areas such as business development and marketing.
A representative of CANBAS has met with Mr Russell twice to discuss issues facing the NDM and offer a possible resolution.
The Government offers numerous programs that provide support to local tourism industry operators. These include cooperative marketing opportunities through CTEC's marketing brochures, inclusion on the CTEC website and information services through the Canberra Visitors Centre. The NDM has had the opportunity to participate in all these programs and has done so on many occasions.
The NDM is also a key player in the National Capital Educational Tourism Project (NCETP). The Government currently supports the NCETP in partnership with the National Capital Authority and the National Capital Attractions Association.
3. Is the Government concerned that relocation of the National Dinosaur Museum interstate will leave a hole in tourism activities in Canberra;
The Government is naturally concerned with the loss of any attraction from the ACT, as it can have an adverse effect on potential visitor numbers. The combination of national attractions such as the Australian War Memorial with smaller attractions like the NDM provides the ACT with the diversity of attractions that many destinations in other states cannot offer. The ACT needs to maintain this diversity to be able to compete effectively in domestic and international tourism markets.
4. Is the Government concerned that relocation of the National Dinosaur Museum interstate will impact on other tourist attractions at Gold Creek like Cockington Green;
The Government acknowledges that the NDM is a unique product that attracts many visitors including approximately 21,000 school students to Canberra each year. Whether this would impact on a significant number of visitors to the area is debatable as there are other attractions and a vast range of galleries still remaining at Gold Creek.
5. Would the Government consider some sort of agreement between the Education Department, CTEC and the Dinosaur Museum to maximise and increase school groups (local and interstate) visiting the museum, if not, why not;
Visits by school children to educational institutions and attractions that have a cultural or educational element are already included in individual school programs. These decisions are made by the principals of each educational establishment. As said previously, the Government supports the NCETP whose focus is to encourage interstate school groups to visit national capital attractions. CTEC participates extensively in promoting the NDM to maximise visitors to the ACT. (See answer to question 2)
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