The Hodgman Liberal Government is continuing to invest in projects to grow West Coast tourism and support local communities.
This year’s Budget contains $570,000 for the West Coast Trails Projects which is improving walking and mountain bike trails on the West Coast, and encouraging greater visitor numbers, more activities and longer stays to the area.
This Government is focussed on supporting West Coast communities to grow their economies by providing the infrastructure that can support the growth of tourism and related eco-tourism opportunities.
The West Coast Economic Working Group that was established following the closure of the Mt Lyell mine identified a number of projects for funding that would create economic stimulus in the short term and diversify the economies of local communities in the longer term.
Our Government committed $1.7 million to three projects in 2014-15 and this year’s funding forms part of that funding package and our Government’s commitment to deliver to West Coast communities.
Projects underway include the Horsetail Falls Walking Trail, the West Coast Mountain Bike Project and the Granite Creek Bridge replacement.
Significant progress has been made already on these with the Granite Creek Bridge replacement undertaken and the other projects well progressed.
Construction in 2016-17 will include work on Stage Two of the Mountain Bike Project which will include the Heemskirk Loop extension on the eastern slopes of Mt Heemskirk.