$300,000 to improve facilities for Outback drive tourists

Mt Isa: The Bligh Government has announced $300,000 in funding to help the State’s North West build its growing drive tourism market.

At the Community Cabinet meeting in the State North West , Premier Anna Bligh and Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said the money will fund new tourism signs, roadside rest rooms, shaded picnic tables and rubbish bins.

“Local government authorities and local organisations will be able to apply for funds for these infrastructure upgrades which, although minor, will make a big difference to visitors,” said the Premier.

“About 380,000 domestic tourists experience the Outback behind the wheel of a vehicle each year. And a further 20,000 international drive tourists tour the Outback.

“Adequate signs and roadside facilities are really important for their comfort,” she said.

Ms Boyle said that the drive tourism market is worth over $4.4 billion and accounts for over 70% of the overnight leisure market.

“The Outback region is very popular for driving holidays and special interest experiences, including fossicking, astronomy, bird watching, four wheel driving and fishing.

“The region has some of the great Australian drives: Overlander’s Way (Townsville to Tennant Creek), Matilda Highway (Melbourne to Karumba), the North West section of the Savannah Way , the Outback Way (Winton to Alice Springs), and other roads serving tourist destinations,” Ms Boyle said.

“Upgraded facilities will make the outback drive a better experience and help make the North West a more tourist-friendly destination for our grey nomads and other visitors.”

Ms Boyle said the existing facilities and infrastructure available for drive tourists were many kilometres apart in sections of Queensland’s Outback.

For example:

·On the Matilda Way (Landsborough Highway) between Cloncurry and Winton - there is currently no stop between Cloncurry and McKinlay (93km) and no stop between McKinlay and Kynuna (78km) and there is only one rest stop between Kynuna and Winton (155km)

·On the Burke Developmental Road between Cloncurry and Burke and Wills Junction (on the way to Adeles Grove and Lawn Hill National Park) - there is one truck stop on a 183km stretch

·On the Diamantina Developmental Road between Mt Isa and Boulia - there is one rest stop about 80km outside Boulia but nothing else along the road (300km total).

Member for Mt Isa Betty Kiernan welcomed the funding boost for the North West.

“Growing tourism in the North West is really important to diversifying our economic base.

“We want visitors to have the most enjoyable experience possible and these extra facilities will help.

“We have fascinating attractions in the North West. Winton is a pilgrimage for Banjo Paterson fans as it was where he wrote Waltzing Matilda in 1875 and of course the Royal Flying Doctor Service was launched in Cloncurry, which is also the home of cultural and historical sites.

“Lawn Hill National Park is also famous for its fossil sites while Mt Isa’s unique and picturesque landscape is a major drawcard and Boulia, regarded as capital of the “Channel Country” has its Min Min Lights and popular local events such as the Boulia Cameral Races and the Boulia Rodeo,” Mrs Kiernan said.

Ms Boyle said: “This funding compliments the Queensland Government’s commitment of $1.7 million under the Drive Tourism Program which is funding marketing for highways such as Matilda Way and Overlander’s Way.”

Ends

Media contact: Minister’s Office: 3224 2004
4 November 2007