The accessibility and safety of some of the state’s most iconic national park destinations remains at the forefront of election promises.
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On Wednesday the Liberals pledged to invest $24 million to boost park attractions across the state, including a $400,000 upgrade to the Ben Lomond shuttle bus car park.
As part of the plan, $16 million would be invested over four years to improve infrastructure as well as $8 million for Parks and Wildlife Service to assist with maintenance costs.
Liberal funding promises include:
- Maria Island: $4 million to improve infrastructure and open an EOI for the Bernacci Terraces, to develop new tourist accommodation that adds another option for travellers
- Overland Track: $3 million to renovate huts
- East Coast camping: $1.5 million to upgrade popular camping sites including Diana’s basin camping area, Humbug Point and camp areas in the Mount William National Park
- Tasman National Park Gateway: $1 million to improve facilities including viewing platforms, tracks, toilets, carparks at key experiences, including at Devils Kitchen, Tasman Arch and Fortescue Bay
- Cockle Creek: $800,000 to improve the Southern gateway to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area
- The Stanley Nut: $450,000 to upgrade visitor infrastructure
- Highfield House: $250,000 for visitor amenity improvements in Stanley
- Ben Lomond National Park: $400,000 to upgrade the shuttle bus car park below Jacobs Ladder
Bass Liberal MHA Sarah Courtney said the funding was about “future proofing” national park icons and creating jobs in regional areas.
“We have some clear targets around visitor dispersal by 2022 and we want to see 70 per cent of visitors to Tasmania spending a night in a regional area,” she said.
“We also want to see a 50 per cent increase in the amount spent by visitors by 2022 and by supporting our national parks, that’s a key way of driving the regional dispersal.”
Wednesday’s announcement was welcomed by Tourism Northern Tasmania chairman James McKee, who said improving visitor infrastructure was vital.
“Giving people options about how they access an iconic destination like Ben Lomond, will mean people go away and talk about that experience in a much more favorable light,” he said.
“Coping with increases in visitation and ensuring these sites are safe all year round is a major part of that.”
Last week Labor outlined plans to restructure entrance fees for national parks, to help fund an additional 30 park rangers across the state.
Jessica Willard
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
