New $503,000 Fraser Island visitor centre under construction

Construction is underway on a $503,000 visitor information centre and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service office at Dundubara on Fraser Island, Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr said today.

Ms Nelson-Carr said the facility had been a Queensland Government election commitment and would meet the needs of QPWS staff and visitors in the same way as the newly upgraded Fraser Island centre at Eurong.

“The Eurong centre has been refurbished at a cost of $430,000 to include visitor information, a well equipped incident control section and office space for up to 15 staff.

“The incident control component will help QPWS in the handling of possible emergency situations with assistance from the Police, State Emergency Services and Rural Fire and Queensland Ambulance Services.

“The original building at Eurong was extended and a complete internal fit-out done to ensure that the centre, which is now the main operational base for the Southern Fraser Island Management Unit, met current standards and expectations.”

Member for Hervey Bay Andrew McNamara said visitors to World Heritage listed Fraser Island would be impressed by both first-rate centres which will help them to make the most of the island’s exceptional natural attractions, whatever their length of stay.

“Fraser Island is one of Australia’s most popular tourist attractions because of its natural values so we need to make sure facilities on the island are up to scratch,” Mr McNamara said.

“Good facilities and infrastructure help QPWS staff look after those natural values and make the island safe and enjoyable for visitors.”

In addition to capital investments at Dundubara and Eurong, other Queensland Government major projects on Fraser Island over the past three years include:

$2.1 million for 15 new ranger houses
$0.8 million boardwalk on Wanggoolba Creek
$1 million for the Fraser Island Great Walk.

Media contact: Karla Steen (Minister Nelson-Carr’s office) 3336 8004 or Andrew McNamara 4124 1386

24 May 2007