MS NELSON-CARR ASKED THE MINISTER FOR TOURISM AND FAIR TRADING (MR LAWLOR) —
QUESTION:
Will the Minister inform the House of the strategies to improve tourist drives in Townsville and North Queensland?
ANSWER:
As part of the 2009 election campaign the Bligh Government committed an additional $37.8 million to tourism which included a commitment of $1.8 million over three years to deliver and provide minor drive tourism infrastructure.
The Minor Tourism Infrastructure Grants fund minor infrastructure projects with a focus on upgrading or developing non-urban roadside facilities and amenities throughout regional Queensland. These facilities or amenities could include the development and installation of interpretative signage, public amenities, shaded picnic areas, refuse points, municipal art projects and waste management points.
The 2010-2011 Minor Tourism Infrastructure Grants were released on 1 March 2010. These grants will target the Great Tropical Drive from Cooktown to Townsville. Other routes included in this round are:
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The Adventure Way from St George to the South Australian Border
Great Inland Way from Charters Towers to Dirranbandi
Capricorn Highway Rockhampton to Barcaldine
Leichardt Highway Theodore to Goondiwindi
Warrego Highway from Dalby to Charleville.
The 2009-2010 round of funding received 30 applications. Fifteen of these projects received funding totalling $584,834, with Savannah Way Limited from Cairns receiving $47,292 for the development and implementation of signage.
The regions targeted in this first year were:
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Overlander’s Way from Townsville to Northern Territory border
Savannah Way from Cairns to the Northern Territory border
Pacific Coast Touring Route from Gympie to Cairns
Matilda Highway from Barringun to Longreach
Country Way from Wallangarra to Rockhampton
Outback Way from Winton to Northern Territory border.
Previous funding has enabled the development of 26 projects in North West Queensland and along the Pacific Coast Touring route. Types of projects to receive funding have included:
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Installation of electric BBQ’s at popular stopover spots
Interpretative and directional signage
Shaded picnic areas with amenities
Construction and erection of public art
Installation of waste management and refuse points
Upgrading visitor facilities at popular tourist attractions.
As part of the Government’s commitment to this project I have established an Industry Consultative Committee made up of industry representatives and key stakeholders to provide advice on minor tourism infrastructure priorities and to oversee the assessment process.
