The Riversleigh Fossil Centre will be given the breath of life to showcase fossil stories of the local area and the popular tourist destination, Adels Grove Camping Park, will unveil a new conference room and camp kitchen as part of the $10 million tourism boost for outback Queensland.
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Julia Creek will be funded for upmarket artesian baths, among 15 new outback tourism projects announced by the Palaszczuk Government.
This week Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the successful applicants of the government’s $10 million Outback Tourism Infrastructure fund.
“From Mt Isa to Julia Creek, Diamantina Shire, Barcaldine, Maranoa and Cunnamulla – we’re investing in projects that we know will lure more tourists to the Queensland outback,” she said.
“Tourism is vital to the outback’s future and this funding will help ensure we deliver the infrastructure needed to create more tourism jobs for the future.
“New attractions are critical to ensure we diversify the outback economy and help sustain communities particularly through volatile weather events, like drought.”
Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said the $10 million Outback Tourism Infrastructure fund was part of the Palaszczuk Government’s record $180 million investment in Queensland tourism.
“Tourism accounts for around 3700 jobs in this region – about 10 per cent of all jobs in the outback,” Ms Jones said.
“Over the last three years, international visitor expenditure in outback Queensland has grown by more than 11 per cent to $617.3 million. Outback Queensland has the potential to be a global hotspot for international tourists.”
“This funding will see the right infrastructure in place to provide new and unique experiences for tourists to outback Queensland, one of our greatest points of difference over competing destinations,” she said.
Other projects to receive funding through the government’s $10 million Outback Tourism Infrastructure fund include:
LONGREACH / WINTON / BARCALDINE
Outback Aussie Tours Pty Ltd for an Outback Rail Adventure – for two Rail Motors and associated infrastructure.
Qantas Foundation Memorial to build a facility to display the history of the Qantas Super Constellation Cabins and Cockpit.
North Gregory Hotel – Vision Splendid Outback Tour Company – to build adventure base camp facilities along the Dinosaur Dreaming Trail.
Yambangku Aboriginal Cultural Heritage and Tourism Development Aboriginal Corporation to facilitate unique Aboriginal and ecological tourism experiences in the Barcaldine area.
Barcaldine Regional Council – to build economical camping parks in Aramac, Jerricho and Muttaburra where no commercial camping grounds exist.
MURWEH / ROMA
Murweh Shire Council to build infrastructure to showcase Charleville’s World War II heritage.
Maranoa Regional Council – The Bigger Big Rig and Tree Walk - to build a visitor information centre in Roma to pay homage and celebrate Australia’s first discovery of oil and gas and other tourist attractions in the area.
QUILPIE/PAROO
Outback Gondwana Foundation to build infrastructure to display Australia’s largest dinosaur ‘Cooper’.
Paroo Progress Association – Cunnamulla All Aboard! Time Travel After Dark – build new and renovate existing infrastructure on the history of the rail experience in the outback.
DIAMANTINA
Diamantina Shire Council to renovate the Old Court House building to showcase the history of Birdsville.
In 2017-18, TEQ supported events including the Birdsville Races, Mount Isa Mines Rotary Rodeo, Winton’s Way Out West Festival, Outback Festival and Vision Splendid.
Ms Jones said on top of $10 million for 15 projects announced today, an extra $2.2 million was directed to the expansion and refurbishment of the Australian Workers Heritage Centre in Barcaldine.