Outback gets tourism funding
September 19, 2007 - 12:30PM
An eco-tourism complex, an indigenous river trail and the world's longest golf course will receive federal funding to boost tourism in Australia's drought-ravaged outback.
Tourism Minister Fran Bailey announced $4.5 million would be injected into 35 tourism projects to draw more tourists to regional areas which were suffering from the devastating drought.
"The worst drought on record has caused enormous hardship right across our nation," Ms Bailey said.
She said it was hoped the initiative would help boost a tourism industry that injected more than $32 billion into regional Australia each year.
Among the projects to draw funding was the Nullabor links project, which will see an 18-hole golf course built over 1,365km and across two states.
Beginning at Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, a hole - complete with tee, rugged outback fairway and a green - will be placed at each participating town along the Eyre Highway to
Ceduna in South Australia.
More than $330,000 of the funding will be used to promote and signpost Nullabor Links which is expected to be completed by the end of 2008.
An eco-tourism complex at Hedlow
Creek, Barmoya, near
Rockhampton in central Queensland, will receive $100,000 and a project promoting indigenous tourism along the
Darling River in NSW will receive $500,000.
"This funding will help local regions diversify and deliver a lasting economic benefit," Ms Bailey said.
She said tourism already created 200,000 jobs in regional Australia and it was hoped more jobs could be created.
© 2007 AAP