Standing on a cliff more than 100m above the Murchison River, the Premier surveyed the view from the proposed site of one of two 100m-high skywalks to be built in Kalbarri National Park.
The $5 million twin skywalks will be built 100m apart at the Inyaka Wookai Watju site, also known as West Loop lookout, and span 20m and 12m beyond the Murchison River gorge rim.
To be opened in 2017, they will boast breathtaking views of the gorge’s rust-red cliffs, flowing water and scrub from above.
The State Government will officially announce the attractions today as part of a $20.7 million investment in a tourism precinct in the park, about $20 million of which will come from Royalties for Regions.
Almost $12 million will be used to seal the Loop/Z Bend road, $3.23 million will be for new shelters, toilets, sealed paths and signage at three sites in the park and the rest of the money will go towards employing a ranger, Aboriginal engagement and promotions.
Mr Barnett said WA’s central coast had not been front and centre for most West Australians, but it had established towns all along it.
He said it had taken a bit to persuade him to go ahead with the expensive project but building up destinations along the beautiful coastline would put an end to the view that people just “drive through” it.
The Government was also trying to open the Abrolhos Islands to more tourism and aquaculture.
It would be a long-term and expensive project but a road along the old stock route on the coast could link Kalbarri and Shark Bay and help transform the region into a tourist destination.
“I think one of the weaknesses is it is not promoted as a broad area of coast,” Mr Barnett said.
“The Kimberley is the Kimberley and the South West is the South West, and this is sort of disparate.”
Kalbarri National Park, which is famous for its wildflowers and sandstone cliffs, had almost 371,000 visitors in 2014-15.
Regional Development Minister Terry Redman said tourism was a major opportunity to improve the Mid West’s economy and exciting tourist attractions were needed to attract new visitors to country towns and get others to stay longer.
The cost of flights to some country areas did pose a challenge, but he hoped to achieve quality regional air services at a fair and reasonable price.
“We’ve got to balance what the State does to achieve the outcomes it’s after versus the commercial reality of airlines and the reality of the economy,” he said.
“I’m watching it very closely.”
The official opening of Denham’s $2.2 million recreational jetty marked the 399th anniversary of Dutch explorer Dirk Hartog’s landing on the WA coastline yesterday.
Hartog, one of Australia’s earliest European visitors, famously left a pewter plate nailed to a post at Cape Inscription on the island that now bears his name in 1616.
All eyes will be on Dirk Hartog Island, off the coast of Shark Bay, on October 25 next year for the 400th anniversary.
The centrepiece of the celebrations is a five-day festival from October 21 to October 25 that will look back at the State’s maritime history, including the Dutch contribution to the exploration and mapping of WA.
Shire of Shark Bay president Cheryl Cowell, who has lived in Denham for 20 years, said she hoped next year’s event would put the town on the map.
She said Dutch royalty had even been invited, but the locals were looking forward to the 1616-themed ball.
“We are hoping for a lasting legacy that will keep people coming back year after year,” Cr Cowell said.
“People are already booking accommodation in advance 12 months out.”
The jetty replaced the town’s old timber jetty, which had reached the end of its useful life.
Hartog’s plate is now on display at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
No comments:
Post a Comment