BULLER TRIP: Learn what others have done in their community, take the opportunity to network, take on new ideas, learn and listen, engage with others and inform our community what would be beneficial to our town. WESTPORT: We met with Phil Rossiter and Barry Ward from Buller Adventures. They started their discussion with the development of the Old Ghost Road. They gave us the opportunity to ask questions. The number one message we got was whatever the customer wants we should be able to achieve from a bike repair to a dinner flown in by a helicopter. Keep pricing fair as word of mouth and advertising are important to return visitors. Listen to your customers and act on the information, for instance if people are constantly asking for one thing we need to provide that service or product. We learned that 86% of our visitors are kiwis with the balance mainly from Australia and Europe. The average age of travellers is 30-60 years old. KEY MESSAGES
* Make everything an experience from a coal truck driver to a cheeky comment!
* Be proud of what we have and ask visitors what they want, what they like and what went well
* Look at our core services first - food, coffee, shuttles, toilets/showers and car parks
* The Westcoast can do attitude is what people want
* Stay authentic to Blackball as this is what people want and will remember
* Focus on bikers and trampers
* Bike owners bring their own bikes and are very particular about their bikes
* Have stocks of simple things in town for visitors
* Stay true to providing local goods and serviand not tourist junk!
* Everyone is an ambassador for Blackball – welcome our visitors with a wave and a smile
SEDDONVILLE: We drove to the Rough and Tumble Lodge which is located at the entrance of the “Old Ghost Road”. Barry showed the group around the lodge and we all enjoyed the ambience and spectacular surroundings. Guests stay overnight at this luxurious rustic location, share a great meal and head out on the track the following day. KARAMEA: We met with Rosalie Sampson who is also part of the CLD group for Karamea. We had dinner and spent the night at the Last Resort Hotel. The next day we visited their lovely visitor resource centre which has been developed over time. We then went on to the Oparara Basin Arches and saw the information panels and we all walked up to the biggest Arch. After that we took in the first 40 minutes of the Heaphy track and then headed back to Karamea. We had lunch at Vinnie’s café. Vinnie spoke with us about his journey from a yurt with just coffee to what’s there today incorporating a real estate office, hairdresser, sewing alterations and a café. We all had a good look around Karamea and all agreed that Blackball is heading in the right direction.
BLACKBALL WEBSITE: WOW this is looking great, take a look blackball.nz both login fields are demo. We would appreciate your input and information please contact webmaster@blackball.co.nz or talk to our website administrator Mark Davies
PICNIC TABLES: We have 22 tables for our town, Alan Cox and some helpful locals cut the flat packs for each of the tables and they are now ready for assembly, our plan will be to meet at the Blackball Hilton car park 13th October, let Cynthia know if you can make it, we will celebrate our work at the end of the day with a Pot Luck Dinner on our newly assembled tables.
‘WHO THE HELL IS PETER’ 3rd October 7pm at the Workingman’s Club, supper will be provided RSVP: blackballresidentsassociation@gmail.com
Consultation
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