Creek’s virtual reality

Mayor of McKinlay shire Belinda Murphy said $35,000 had been allocated towards filming various outback events that many tourists may not be able to experience first hand.

“We are looking at filming cattle mustering on land and via helicopter, working cattle in the yard and climbing the water tower.  We are also looking at filming some events such as the bush races and rodeos,” Cr Murphy said.

“These are experiences that many tourists would not be able to do, so we want to create a space at the tourist information centre where they can feel like they are there.”

Ms Murphy said the experience would be provided via virtual reality headsets which will be available for use for a minimal fee.  

She said this would be inline with the charge on the live Dunnart display.  

This display features the endangered marsupial and gives information about its breeding program and habitat.

“We will then have two rooms and may combine the two,” she said.

Ms Murphy said the information centre in Burke Street was a modern facility that opened in 2010 and was seeing an increase in visitors by about 30 per cent annually.  

Last season, 14,000 tourists used the facility.

She said she hoped to have the headsets available for the tourist season in mid 2017.  

She said she was also keen to offer tourists the chance to climb the water tower to take advantage of its magnificent 360 degree views of the open country.

“This is almost opposite of what people in the city are used to.  

“They are used to the sprawling suburbs.  The shire of McKinlay is 42,000 square kilometres.  

“It’s a massive place and there is a lot of room.  At the top of the water tower, there are some beautiful sunsets and sunrises and star gazing is simply magical,” she said.

But first visitors will be able to experience the reality in a virtual world from the 32 metre high tower.