Apply now for regional tourism infrastructure grants
Published Friday, 04 January, 2008 at 08:59 AM
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry
The Honourable Desley Boyle
The State Government is calling for applications to improve roadside facilities and amenities in north-west Queensland.
Applications are now being accepted for the $300,000 Minor Tourism Infrastructure Grants program that was announced by Premier Anna Bligh and Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Minister Desley Boyle at Community Cabinet at Cloncurry in November.
Ms Boyle said she had received a taste of the Outback tourism experience and was hugely impressed.
“The industry in the Outback really must be congratulated for the way they go about their business. Everyone works together - community groups and people volunteer their time and labour to make things happen,” Ms Boyle said.
In the past financial year there were nearly 500,000 visitors to the Queensland’s Outback. Domestic overnight visitors spent $270 million.
Member for Mount Isa Betty Kiernan said the grants were a terrific opportunity for the region to better cater for the growing drive tourism market.
“Individual grants of up to $30,000 are available for improvements such as installing signs and upgrading roadside toilets, shaded picnic tables, rubbish bins and public art,” Mrs Kiernan said.
“Local governments, tourism and regional economic development organisations and businesses are all eligible to apply.
“This is a terrific opportunity to bring facilities up to the standard travellers expect.”
Mrs Kiernan said the funding would make the going more comfortable for tourists visiting the region, which was very popular for driving holidays and special interest experiences, including fossicking, astronomy, bird watching, four wheel driving and fishing.
“Our region has three of the great Australian drives: Overlander’s Way (Townsville to Tennant Creek), Matilda Highway (Melbourne to Karumba) and Outback Way (Winton to Alice Springs), and other Development Roads serving tourist destinations,” Mrs Kiernan said.
“Improving our roadside facilities will making the outback drive a better experience and help make the North West a more tourist-friendly destination for our grey nomads and other visitors.”
Mrs Kiernan said existing facilities and infrastructure available for drive tourists were many kilometres apart in 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 Mt Isa and Boulia - there is one rest stop about 80km outside Boulia but nothing else along the road (300km total).
For more information or to apply for a Minor Tourism Infrastructure grant, telephone the Mount Isa Centre of the Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry on 4747 2170 or email rod.wilkinson@dtrdi.qld.gov.au.
Applications close at 3pm, Friday 29 February 2008.
Ends
Contact: 3224 2004
Applications are now being accepted for the $300,000 Minor Tourism Infrastructure Grants program that was announced by Premier Anna Bligh and Tourism, Regional Development and Industry Minister Desley Boyle at Community Cabinet at Cloncurry in November.
Ms Boyle said she had received a taste of the Outback tourism experience and was hugely impressed.
“The industry in the Outback really must be congratulated for the way they go about their business. Everyone works together - community groups and people volunteer their time and labour to make things happen,” Ms Boyle said.
In the past financial year there were nearly 500,000 visitors to the Queensland’s Outback. Domestic overnight visitors spent $270 million.
Member for Mount Isa Betty Kiernan said the grants were a terrific opportunity for the region to better cater for the growing drive tourism market.
“Individual grants of up to $30,000 are available for improvements such as installing signs and upgrading roadside toilets, shaded picnic tables, rubbish bins and public art,” Mrs Kiernan said.
“Local governments, tourism and regional economic development organisations and businesses are all eligible to apply.
“This is a terrific opportunity to bring facilities up to the standard travellers expect.”
Mrs Kiernan said the funding would make the going more comfortable for tourists visiting the region, which was very popular for driving holidays and special interest experiences, including fossicking, astronomy, bird watching, four wheel driving and fishing.
“Our region has three of the great Australian drives: Overlander’s Way (Townsville to Tennant Creek), Matilda Highway (Melbourne to Karumba) and Outback Way (Winton to Alice Springs), and other Development Roads serving tourist destinations,” Mrs Kiernan said.
“Improving our roadside facilities will making the outback drive a better experience and help make the North West a more tourist-friendly destination for our grey nomads and other visitors.”
Mrs Kiernan said existing facilities and infrastructure available for drive tourists were many kilometres apart in 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 Mt Isa and Boulia - there is one rest stop about 80km outside Boulia but nothing else along the road (300km total).
For more information or to apply for a Minor Tourism Infrastructure grant, telephone the Mount Isa Centre of the Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry on 4747 2170 or email rod.wilkinson@dtrdi.qld.gov.au.
Applications close at 3pm, Friday 29 February 2008.
Ends
Contact: 3224 2004