Visitors Centre gets a makeover as part of $1.3m boost for tourism

Implemented by Dungog Regional Tourism in collaboration with the NSW State Government and Dungog Council, the projects are all aimed at improving the infrastructure associated with outdoor recreation.

"We obtained a grant through the department of regional NSW to improve the infrastructure for outdoor recreation in Dungog Shire," chair of Dungog Regional Tourism Cameron Archer said.

"We worked across various sites as well as upgrading and refurbishing the Visitor Information Centre."

The project, titled Infrastructure for Camping and Outdoor Recreation in Dungog and District, has upgraded five key sites across the shire as well as placed interpretative signage at important locations to recognise iconic individuals associated with the shire.

All in all the project was worth $1.3 million.

Information boards have been installed at Frank Robinson Park, the Doug Walters Pavillion, Dungog Showground, Maxwells Creek Reserve, Bennett Park, Fulton Lookout at Underbank, Clarence Town Village Green, Clarence Town Bridge Reserve,Tucker Park and Tocal.

There has also been information displayed on Doug Walters, Walter Bennett, Kevin Bacon and Frank Robinson in Dungog, John Tucker and the Tocal area in Paterson, Paddy Slavin in Vacy and Dorothea Mackellar in Gresford.

Brochures have also been produced on Clarence Town, Vacy, Gresford and Paterson as well as a region-wide map of the Dungog Shire.

These brochures, map of the shire and interpretive materials have all been combined into Dungog's first A4 tourism booklet.

Although the forms of tourism information are the most public facing upgrades, Mr Archer said that upgrades to the infrastructure have also been crucial to upgrading Dungog's tourism experience.

"We also upgraded infrastructure such as electrical services, drainage, access, those essential things that people don't see but are absolutely necessary," he said.

"We wanted to make sure that the infrastructure is in place for the long term growth of the way we operate."

The completion of these works and tourism documents is set to be celebrated at the official opening of the refurbished Visitors Information Centre. That will happen on Wednesday, April 24 from 3pm.

"The region complements the other attractions in the Hunter Valley. Tourism, if it is done well, supports local communities, businesses and the economy," Mr Archer said. "It's to recognise the completion of the project and promote the developments."