Mr Lawlor said 13 major proposed tourism investment projects had been identified as part of the Townsville North Queensland Tourism Opportunity Plan, which he launched in Townsville today.
They are:
- Greater Townsville CBD Tourism Precinct
- Townsville Cruise and Military Ship Terminal
- Townsville Business Events Centre
- Townsville Artificial Reef
- Magnetic Island as a Sustainable Destination
- White Mountains National Park Wilderness Camping and Walking
- Palm Island Adventure Trek
- Wallaman Falls EcoResort
- Off-road Adventure Park
- Tourist Parks Cluster
- Coast and Islands Boating Trail
- Indigenous Rock Art and Relics Trail
- Cromarty Wetlands / North Queensland Wetlands Network.
“The Tourism Opportunity Plan (TOP), which has been more than 12 months in the making, was developed as a partnership between Tourism Queensland and Townsville Enterprise with support from Townsville-based consultants, the AEC Group,” Mr Lawlor said.
“It also involved extensive consultation with a broad range of government, industry and community stakeholders across the region.
“The TOP identifies new tourism product and investment opportunities and the infrastructure needed to support them.
“Tourism is a major industry for the Townsville region with 1.94 million daytrip, domestic and international visitors travelling to the region in the year ending March 2009.
“For the destination to continue to prosper and grow, we need to identify new opportunities.
“This plan looks at what is already there and lists ‘catalyst investment’ projects which will take the region into the future.
“As part of the State Government’s 10-year Queensland Tourism Strategy, Tourism Opportunity Plans are being developed for each of the state’s tourism regions with plans for the Whitsundays/Mackay and Brisbane regions released earlier this year.”
Tourism Queensland CEO Anthony Hayes said the project partners worked with more than 70 stakeholders to identify a range of projects which would build on Queensland’s four key themes of natural encounters, adventures, islands, beaches and the reef, and Queensland lifestyle.
“The extensive consultation process has identified that these projects are needed to increase the region’s tourism credentials while being feasible and viable,” Mr Hayes said.
“This plan is a guide to help public and private investment and infrastructure come together to meet residents’ and visitors’ needs to ensure the region’s potential is realised while preserving its character and diversity.”
Townsville Enterprise CEO Trevor Goldstone said the Townsville region already featured a wide variety of quality tourism products and experiences, but for the destination to continue to flourish it must explore new opportunities.
“The North Queensland Tourism Opportunity Plan is a roadmap for tourism development in our region for the next 10 years,” Mr Goldstone said.
“The investment opportunities identified in the plan and its implementation would create a whole range of investment and employment opportunities for the Townsville region.
“A further six key infrastructure challenges have been identified, including upgrading of the Bruce Highway, creating all-weather roads to tourism destinations and a review of boat-launching and mooring facilities.
“The plan also places the region in a better position to attract infrastructure funds and alerts private investors to projects that have the support of state and local governments.
“This is an exciting opportunity for the Townsville region and opens the door to a whole range of new possibilities for its tourism industry.”
