The West Australian Government says grey nomads and other travellers in the state are to benefit from improved facilities, better access to national parks and better support for caravan and camping,
In the state budget, the government there has pledged that, over the next four years, $34.4million in Royalties for Regions funding will go to the Caravan and Camping Action Plan ($14.7 million of which is specifically earmarked for initiatives to improve camping facilities in national parks) with an additional $6.3million from Royalties for Regions allocated to the Parks for People initiative.
Environment Minister Albert Jacob said this would provide more high-quality, low-cost campsites in national parks throughout the South-West and Mid-West.
“The number of visits to national and marine parks has increased by 55% in the past 10 years and we expect it to grow by another 80% over the next decade,” he said. “We need to ensure facilities are continually expanded and upgraded so that West Australians can access affordable, high-quality holiday accommodation in our own backyard.
Tourism Minister Liza Harvey said the Caravan and Camping Action Plan would ensure more people could get out and explore more of the state in an affordable way.
“This is about providing direct support to WA’s tourism industry through the promotion of WA’s spectacular natural attractions and the advantages of holidaying at home,” Mrs Harvey said.“We want to reconnect our children with nature and our national parks, we want to bring back the family camping trip by providing better facilities and more campgrounds to choose from – while also encouraging our interstate and overseas visitors to take advantage of our spectacular parks.
She also said the government wanted to ensure that commercial caravan parks were supported to attract visitors and provide the best facilities possible.
Projects under the Parks for People scheme will include lookouts, boardwalks, walk trails, camp kitchens, picnic tables and other facilities. A timetable for the projects is currently being developed, however other key capital works to start in national parks this year include:
Do you applaud the WA Government’s budget commitments? Where else would you like to see money spent? Comment below.
What a cunning Mob this Gov”t is, !
It’s very nice staying at one of the National Parks , that is if you are prepared to pay Entry PLUS Camping fees.
It’s a pity they don’t jump into a caravan and try and find a safe over-night rest area anywhere between Hedland and Perth on the Great Northern Hwy.
I would invite all of these Tourist Officials to also take a road trip around Tassie and just get some idea how that State looks after the traveller with plenty of free camp sites, many equipped with shelters and FREE Gas BBQ’s.
The biggest thing we noticed on our trip up the West Coast, were the hundreds of NO CAMPING signs all offering to take anything off you in the way of “On the spot fines” ranging from $100 – $1000.
I’m afraid that in echoing many Eastern State Travellers comments,
W.A. has a long way to go.
We are still travelling around the north of WA now and have just left Karijini. Only too glad to pay the few dollars asked of us to stay in the National Park there. What a wonderful place it is! Most free campsites along the WA coast are great to stay at overnight with good facilities. WA is a BIG state and you can’t expect it to have as many facilities as, say, Tassie… We commend the WA Government’s pledge to improve facilities, put in place better access to national parks and provide better support for not only caravanners and campers, but ALL travellers in the state – we are all to benefit from this…
Travelled though WA recently and absolutely delighted with the improved overnight camp areas. All the ones with amenities seem to have new toilets AND dump points now. Absolutely no excuse for dumping your cannister in CP toilets – as happened at Timber Creek when I was there much to the fury of the caretaker!
There is also sealing of the areas happening – good on ya WA!!!!
Spend some money on the road to Tunnel Creek. Windjana Gorge has great facilities and host camp caretaker . Tunnel Creek is a wonderful spot but the road to get there yesterday was horrendous .
Great to see some investment in low cost independent camping areas, but please don’t forget the large nomad population travelling with their fur kids who are not allowed in National Parks (even though I read its okay to shoot wildlife there now, apparently a domestic dog might scare them!).