The council slashed several programs after NSW Local Government Minister Barbara Perry rejected its application in July to raise $250,000 in rate revenue for the lifeblood tourism industry.

The latest round of cuts includes:

o closing Bulahdelah and Pacific Palms’ visitor centres, saving $70,000

o leaving Tuncurry Pool closed this summer - $50,000

o less mowing of local parks - $35,000

o and a freeze on employing more council staff - $150,000.

Bulahdelah Chamber of Commerce president Brian Cook said the 12,000 annual tourists who used his town’s information centre could be lost to the Great Lakes.

“From our viewpoint it doesn’t seem conducive with keeping the town going,” he said.

“I know the council’s decision was very much budgetary, but the facility used to direct a hell of a lot of traffic towards Forster and Tuncurry.”

Great Lakes mayor Jan McWilliams said the town, with a population of 1100, will have little need for a visitor information centre when it is bypassed by the Pacific Highway.

“Had the bypass not been held up, it would have started already,” she said.

“Eventually people are going to be bypassing Bulahdelah anyway.”

But Mr Cook said the visitor centre’s ability to lure travellers into town would be even more keenly missed after the bypass.

“[The centre] is a vital part of the infrastructure of our town, bypass or not, and in fact it’s a major drawcard for people to come off the highway,” he said.

The council will also save $42,000 this year after scrapping the option for locals to pay rates through Australia Post.

“We have enjoyed considerable support from ratepayers in the past as we implement efficiencies and cost-saving measures, and we look forward to that support again,” Cr McWilliams said.