$2 million State Government grant announced at opening of new visitor centre at Rottnest Island

13/8/99
Tourism Minister Norman Moore said today that the State Government was continuing its commitment to upgrade Rottnest Island's accommodation, public facilities and infrastructure with a $2 million funding grant this year.
He was speaking after officially opening the new visitor centre at Rottnest as well as the Island Discovery Centre at Kingstown.
Mr Moore said that the new visitor centre was a one-stop shop and represented a significant improvement in customer service.
"It is designed to cater for the more than 400,000 visitors expected to come to Rottnest this year," the Minister said.
He said that other improvements provided for by the funding included:

• the continued upgrade of South Thomson holiday units;
• upgrading heritage cottages E, J and H;
• providing luggage shelters at the camping areas, Kingstown and the Thomson Bay jetty;
• new remote bus stops and shelters; and -
• more facilities for the disabled.

"There is also a range of environmental initiatives and heritage works which will be undertaken this year," Mr Moore said.
He said that this would ensure improvements to accommodation and services on Rottnest as well as protecting and enhancing its fragile environment for the enjoyment of future generations of Western Australians.
He praised the new Island Discovery Centre where children could learn about the Island's environment and heritage.
"This facility has already proved a tremendous success, providing a valuable educational resource during the recent winter school holiday program with about 300 children joining in many activities organised by the Rottnest Island Authority," Mr Moore said.
He said that these initiatives provided Western Australians with the certainty that the island would be well cared for and that involving children now was a wise investment in the island's future.
Media Contact: Hartley Joynt 9321 1444