In a joint Ministerial statement this week;
Brendon Grylls, Minister for Regional Development; Lands; Minister Assisting the Minister for State Development; Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport and;
Donna Faragher, Minister for Environment; Youth announced a new funding initiative boosting conservation and nature-based tourism.
Mr Grylls said the projects would provide a boost to the nature-based tourism industry, employment and other business opportunities in regional WA.
“Parks are the basis for WA’s tourism profile around the world and are popular destinations for local holidays and recreational activities,” he said.
“This investment from Royalties from Regions is also targeted at providing more affordable caravan and camping opportunities, which addresses many of the recommendations of the Parliamentary inquiry into caravan and camping in WA that the Liberal-National Government has supported.” The projects that will share the $20million Royalties for Regions investment over the next four years are:
Improved camping and visitor facilities
- Lane Poole Reserve
- Cape Range National Park
- Wellington National Park
- Yalgorup National Park (Tim’s Thickett)
- Serpentine National Park (Gooralong)
- Torndirrup National Park
Speaking in Kalbarri National Park, Environment Minister Donna Faragher said the projects would create local jobs in construction and tourism through the development of new and improved tourism infrastructure such as roads, visitor facilities, campsites and eco-friendly accommodation.
“Kalbarri is one of WA’s top tourism destinations which is why we are investing $5.8million to improve an 11km stretch of road that brings more than 30,000 vehicles each year to spectacular locations along the Murchison River, such as the Z Bend and Nature’s Window,” Mrs Faragher said.
“In addition, we will be spending a further $700,000 on visitor infrastructure, primarily focusing on upgrading walk trails and installing bike racks in the park.”
Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls welcomed the funding package and said it would help people enjoy WA’s spectacular parks.
“National parks are places for people to visit as well as the cornerstone of nature conservation and we want to promote both,” Mr Grylls said.
Mrs Faragher said the funding would also help expand the Naturebank initiative to give tourists and local holiday-makers the option to explore some of the State’s finest landscapes within easy reach of world-class, ecotourism accommodation.
