The chamber is pushing for the involvement of local entrepreneurs to develop the Hermit’s Cave precinct and assist in its maintenance.

Its members are also looking for community groups to make use of Griffith’s old police station and detectives’ house in an attempt to promote the upkeep of the

historic buildings.

Both sites are on Crown land and have become rundown through lack of dedicated maintenance over many years.

Chamber vice president Pat Pittavino has been an advocate of development at Scenic Hill for some time and has gladly re-entered the discussion, supporting the opening of a café or restaurant at the site.

His idea is to encourage a local entrepreneur to build a restaurant and take responsibility for the precinct, charging a fee for visitors to view the caves and using the money raised to maintain the site.

Another idea was for the council, which is the trustee of the Hermit’s Cave reserve, to receive a portion of the entry fee and use it to cover maintenance.

“You could build something as grand as a restaurant up there – of course it would be a big project – but it would be good for tourism and it would generate jobs for the region,” Mr Pittavino said.

“Alternatively, it could be a small shop selling tea and scones or soft drink and ice cream.

“Either way, it would be a new business for the town. It would be built tastefully to blend in with the surroundings and wouldn’t it be a great place to go at night?”

Mr Pittavino said a suspended walkway would be needed to gain entry to a restaurant, which would provide an opportunity for visitors to look into the caves as they passed.

The old police station and detectives’ house on the corner of Banna Avenue and Ulong Street could provide another

opportunity for a private venture – but chamber president Paul Pierotti believed it would be best used by a community group.

Mr Pierotti had already spoken to Griffith Post School Options and Neighbourhood House about the idea.

He had also spoken to state small business minister Katrina Hodgkinson, who expressed interest in the chamber’s ideas.

A spokesman for Crown Lands said the old police station was subject to an Aboriginal land claim, which would need to be resolved before the building could be used for any other purpose.

Council would need to be involved in any discussion on the future of the Hermit’s Cave reserve.