The Invercargill i-SITE will temporarily relocate to the Northend Bowling Club in Queens Park and be open for business at 8.30am on Friday, 13 April 2018.

Several relocation options  were considered by Venture Southland, which is responsible for the operation and management of the Invercargill i-SITE, before confirming the Northend Bowling Club in Queens Park.

Venture Southland chief executive Paul Casson said a main priority was to ensure minimal disruption for visitors. “The bowling club was selected due to its proximity to the museum, which visitors are familiar with, and because the location won’t affect bus routes,” he said.

The i-SITE could be based at the bowling club for up to 12 weeks while suitable locations in the inner city are assessed.

Mr Casson was appreciative of the community support received while seeking a new location, and thanked the Northend Bowling Club for accommodating the i-SITE.

“The i-SITE plays a crucial role in welcoming and providing information to our city visitors so it was important that we were able to have immediate presence after the museum’s closure,” he said.

The Invercargill i-SITE is no longer able to operate out of its location at the Southland Museum and Art Gallery following the decision made on Tuesday to close museum buildings to the public indefinitely. The decision was made by the Southland Museum and Art Gallery Trust Board, with the support of the Invercargill City Council, after expert advice was received regarding the safety of the Museum buildings in the case of an earthquake.

While it was a sad and challenging time for Invercargill with the closure of the museum, Mr Casson supported the decision, saying that the safety of staff, general public and visitors to the  region was paramount.