Families and tourists will benefit from improved facilities, better access to the State's national parks and better support for caravan and camping following a $40.7million commitment to tourism and the environment in this year's State Budget.
The Budget commitment fulfills an election promise to make low-cost holidays more accessible to West Australians, both in WA's national parks and in better facilities for caravans and campers.
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 over the next four years.
"The number of visits to national and marine parks has increased by 55 per cent in the past 10 years and we expect it to grow by another 80 per cent 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.
"This is a long term environmental strategy to create a better awareness of the value of our parks and the environment among young people."
Mr Jacob said the commitment in this year's Budget built on more than $60million for capital works such as parking, walking trails and visitor facilities in more than 25 million hectares of State parks since 2008.
Tourism Minister Liza Harvey said the Caravan and Camping Action Plan would ensure more West Australian families 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.
"We also want to ensure that commercial caravan parks are supported to attract visitors and provide the best facilities possible."
Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls said the Liberal National Government was committed to transforming regional WA with its record capital works program.
"Through Royalties for Regions we are investing in the future by building long-term assets that will be enjoyed and used by families and visitors for years to come," Mr Grylls said.
"Tourism is a vital part of the regional economy and this program will help to encourage more people to explore all that regional WA has to offer."
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:
$5.925million for a major road upgrade and visitor facilities in Kalbarri National Park
$2.9million to upgrade viewing structures at The Gap in Torndirrup National Park near Albany
$895,000 for Logue Brook campground north-east of Harvey
$800,000 for Nanga campground redevelopment in Lane Poole Reserve south of Dwellingup
$450,000 for Martins Tank campground in Yalgorup National Park south of Mandurah
$638,000 to develop visitor accommodation through the Naturebank program in Cape Le Grand near Esperance, Francois Peron at Shark Bay and Windjana Gorge, Mt Hart and at Ngamoowalem Conservation Park in the Kimberley
$900,000 for a campground along the Kalumburu Road in the Kimberley.
Fact File
The State Government has fulfilled its election commitment to create the Department of Parks and Wildlife to provide a clear focus on the management, scientific research, protection and enhancement of WA's national parks and conservation estate
The Liberal National Government's Royalties for Regions initiative is transforming regional WA with more than 2,500 projects and programs initiated under the program
Caravanning and camping trips account for around 14.2% of total trips in WA
In 2012, around one million visitors stayed in a caravan park or campground in WA, including 950,000 domestic and 50,800 international visitors
WA Budget statements are available at http://ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au
Environment Minister's office - 6552 5800
Tourism Minister's office - 6552 5900
Regional Development Minister's office - 6552 5500
