This week’s 2015-16 Budget will confirm the Hodgman Liberal Government’s commitment to our parks and reserves, with an additional $8 million over two years for funding high priority infrastructure renewal and maintenance.
Tasmania’s natural environment is one of our greatest assets, containing significant natural and cultural values and providing an abundance of opportunities for recreational, educational and tourism experiences.
This new funding will provide significant additional opportunities for the Government to refresh tourism infrastructure in high visitation areas. This will mean that visitor expectation is matched or exceeded and we build on our world-class reputation while at the same time supporting growth of jobs and economic activity in the tourism sector.
This additional funding will provide for the redevelopment, refurbishment and replacement of high priority infrastructure in Tasmania’s parks and reserves including signage and interpretation, walking and multi-use tracks, roads, fire trails, amenities and car parking.
Having the right infrastructure is vitally important for enhancing visitor experience, as well as facilitating good management outcomes such as improving visitor safety and providing additional protection to sensitive values.
The Government will identify priority projects in consultation with local government, regional and other stakeholders.
We recognise the importance of getting the balance right. The Government is genuinely committed to the protection of Tasmania’s unique and precious natural and cultural values while at the same time providing opportunity for using, sharing and celebrating our natural areas with Tasmanians and the world.
The Hodgman Liberal Government is unlocking the potential of our natural areas and considering ideas for sensitive and appropriate tourism offerings in Tasmania’s World Heritage Area, national parks and reserves that are genuinely respectful of the natural and cultural values of those areas.
We have a goal to transform Tasmania into the environmental tourism capital of the world, to create jobs for Tasmanians and help reach a target of 1.5 million visitors a year by 2020.
Tasmania is now heading in the right direction and we need to build on the momentum. We want to give more Tasmanians and visitors the opportunity to experience our unique, world class parks and reserves and this additional funding will help support growth in visitation and enhance visitor experience for these areas.
More Media Releases from the Minister for Environment, Parks and Heritage