IN what’s being tipped as a boost to local tourism, Narellan Road could be home to two attractions – a new entrance to Mount Annan Botanic Garden and a regional visitor information centre.
Garden staff are working on a $3.7 million plan to link the internal roads of the garden with a new entrance at the traffic lights that lead to Mount Annan Christian College.
Garden director Caz McCallum said the current entrance on Mount Annan Drive could not cope with the levels of traffic generated, particularly during special events.
‘‘So what we’ve been wanting to do for years is get a new entrance off Narellan Road,’’ she said.
‘‘It would link directly to our internal road system but it would also give us the potential to build a regional visitor information centre.’’
Mrs McCallum said the centre would capitalise on the passing traffic and make it easier for tourists to simply turn off the F5.
‘‘I think it would be great for the region,’’ she said.
‘‘We have always seen ourselves as being a very important element within the Macarthur region.
‘‘In fact, we estimate between 90 to 95 per cent of our visitors are locals. That’s good but we want to get other people from out of the area to come in and enjoy what locals have.’’
The Garden will submit a business plan to NSW Treasury for the roadworks by the end of September.
The Garden will probably lobby the Federal Government for funds to build the information centre, as well as the three Macarthur councils.