Board to upgrade operations of State-wide camps

24/4/95

The Recreation Camps and Reserves Board is to improve the operations of its State-wide camps in order to enhance their community use and viability.

The changes, which come as a result of a strategic marketing plan, will enable upgraded recreational programs to be provided.

Sport and Recreation Minister Norman Moore said recreation camps were valuable community resources and the board's move would ensure the public continued to benefit from camps.

"We are aiming to provide the public with a range of recreational opportunities that take into account community needs, the expertise and skills of staff and the location of camps," Mr Moore said.

"For example, our Bickley camp offers abseiling in the most beautiful of surrounds, while the Ern Halliday camp in Hillarys is more suited to aquatic activities.

"Over the past few years camps have been running at a loss.  The changes are designed to address this issue and closely align the camps to the objectives of the Ministry of Sport and Recreation."

More than 50,000 people on average stay at the board's camps, the majority stay at the five camps which will continue to be operated by the board.  The five are:  the Bickley Outdoor Centre, Point Walter, Ern Halliday, Noalimba and Tone River, near Manjimup.

Three camps leased from the Department of Conservation and Land Management will be returned to the agency.  They are the Myalup Pines Cottages, near Harvey, the Lewana Valley Cottages, near Balingup, and the Wellington Mills Cottages, near Dardanup.  CALM has indicated that the camps will continue to be available for community use.

Mr Moore said the Woodman Point Camp at Munster, which had an interim listing with the Heritage Council, would be leased to private enterprise.

The Point Peron Camp at Rockingham, which is located on environmentally fragile ground, is aging and has high maintenance costs, would close by mid-1996.

Media contact: Anabel Gomez 321 1444 or 222 9595