A lift in service does not come without a lift in cost, prompting the Tuapeka-Lawrence Community Company to ask the Clutha District Council for more money to provide its service to visitors and residents.
Its existing annual contract with the council is for $25,499 to provide staffing for the information centre and museum in Lawrence, but the group now employs two staff who operate on a four-day-on, four-day-off roster, which provides a service for seven days a week.
Group chairwoman Marie Kean, in a submission to the council's draft long-term council community plan, said volunteers worked on statutory holidays and covered when staff were on annual leave.
"This structure has worked extremely well and we wish it to continue."
But adding the extra staff member had bumped up costs and she was asking for the annual grant to lift to $30,000 for the next financial year.
The company would contribute a further $5000 towards the staff, she said.
