With international travel off the cards for most Australians for the foreseeable future, the Government is looking to spruce up ‘our own back yard’ in anticipation of an ongoing domestic tourism surge.
Marine life, recreational fishers and eco-tourism operators are the focus of a $61.7 million environment and heritage package to be announced in next week’s Federal Budget.
The package will include $33.5 million for upgrades to facilities at national parks and world heritage sites, including the redevelopment of huts along the Overland Track in Tasmania, a new culture and tourism hub in the Wet Tropics in Queensland, and improvements to walking tracks and visitor centres in the Gondwana Rainforests in New South Wales.
Some $3.2 million will be spent getting tourism operators along the Great Barrier Reef to carry out reef monitoring, and $5 million will be set aside to upgrade Townsville’s Reef HQ aquarium.
“There’s certainly some job stimulus aspect to this announcement and that’s vital in regional Australia”, said Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley. “One of the things, when I talk to people coming out of Covid, is that they value nature, they value the natural environment, they want those experiences and, more importantly, domestic tourism is starting to flourish.”
A lot of the money will also be spent building 11 oyster and shellfish reefs around Australia, creating vital habitat for fish and other marine life.
The Federal Budget will be handed down on October 6 after being delayed due to the pandemic.
what happened to the $500 million that was given to look after the reef?