Official opening of tourist village in Karijini National Park

9/10/96

A new tourist accommodation venture to service the growing number of visitors to Karijini National Park in the Hamersley Ranges was officially opened by Regional Development Minister Hendy Cowan today.

Mr Cowan opened a new 20-room motel complex, part of the Auski Tourist Village, on the Great Northern Highway at Munjina, on the park's north-eastern border.

The tourist village also includes a caravan park, roadhouse and budget accommodation.

Mr Cowan said the Karijini National Park was becoming increasingly popular as a destination for interstate and overseas visitors.

Its spectacular scenery and Aboriginal culture had attracted widespread interest.

Visitor numbers to the park had risen from 39,000 in 1991-92 to almost 65,000 in 1994-95.

The Western Australian Tourism Commission had targeted Karijini as a priority destination area in its State-wide development strategy.

The new motel units, developed by Auski Holdings Ltd, would help to cater for the needs of those visitors wishing to stay overnight in close proximity to the park.

The tourist development is also linked to the Munjina airstrip which had recently been upgraded to accommodate the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

The airstrip was also used for tourist flights over the park.

The State Government contributed $250,000 to the airstrip upgrading and was also improving roads in the vicinity of the park.

Media contact: Peter Jackson 222 9595