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Home > Ministerial Responsibilities > Green light for Kangaroo Island ecotourism infrastructure
Green light for Kangaroo Island ecotourism infrastructure
The Hon Anthony Albanese MP
The Minister for Infrastructure, Transport
Regional Development and Local Government
Leader of the House
Member for Grayndler
July 13 2010
The Gillard Labor Government will deliver more than $2.6 million to upgrade vital infrastructure at the Kangaroo Island community camping and day visitor sites.
This funding will ensure that this unique island community is better equipped to deal with growing local, inter-state and international tourism in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Through this project, the Government is supporting jobs in the local community while providing Kangaroo Island residents with good quality infrastructure into the future.
More than 20 local jobs are expected to be created during construction, with a further 26 ongoing jobs on the island, including potential traineeships.
The Government’s funding injection will help upgrade a walking trail, 53 campsites and 11 new picnic sites across nine locations on Kangaroo Island.
The locations include Vivonne Bay, Hanson Bay, Western River, American River, Snellings Beach, Brown Beach, Muston Lookout, Emu Bay and Duck Lagoon.
The upgrades will include revegetation, wind-powered dry toilets, gas-powered barbeques, solar lighting, waste and recycling stations, shaded shelters with water tanks, organised parking, and environmentally sensitive fencing and control barriers.
The project, which is worth just over $2.8 million, will boost Kangaroo Island’s well-earned reputation as one of Australia’s premier ecotourism destinations.
In a 2009 study, four out of five tourists to Kangaroo Island said their main reason for visiting was to see the island’s native wildlife, nature and the natural environment.
Today’s announcement is another great example of Federal Labor partnering with local government to support jobs today while delivering long-lasting benefits.
The Kangaroo Island Council will receive this funding and manage the project.
I want to congratulate the council on their detailed planning work and for submitting a comprehensive proposal to the government.
Work is expected to commence as soon as possible and be completed in the early part of 2011.
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