❓ Mr Waldron asks the Minister for Environment about the new lookout at the Gap in Torndirrup National Park. The Minister provides details on the project's cost, features, accessibility, and impact on regional tourism.
AnsweredQoN 247Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TORNDIRRUP
NATIONAL PARK — THE GAP LOOKOUT
247. Mr T.K. WALDRON to the
Minister for Environment:
I understand that the minister was recently in Albany to
officially open a new major tourism attraction at the Gap in Torndirrup
National Park. Can the minister please update members on this exciting new
experience?
NATIONAL PARK — THE GAP LOOKOUT
247. Mr T.K. WALDRON to the
Minister for Environment:
I understand that the minister was recently in Albany to
officially open a new major tourism attraction at the Gap in Torndirrup
National Park. Can the minister please update members on this exciting new
experience?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Wagin for the visit.
Mr P.B. Watson : Do
you get your numbers right today?
Mr A.P. JACOB :
Yes, I did; thank you very much, member for Albany.
Mr P.B. Watson interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany!
Mr A.P. JACOB :
This state has a long tradition of innovative visitor infrastructure in WA's
natural areas. Going right back to attractions such as the Gloucester tree or
the Bicentennial tree, they gave unique visitor experiences as a way to enjoy
our natural areas.
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr A.P. JACOB : We
can go through to more recent installations such as the Tree Top Walk in
Walpole or the Granite Skywalk in the Porongurups. These sorts of facilities
provide a unique way to experience our natural areas. They are key drivers of
regional tourism because often this state's natural areas, and new and
unique ways to experience those natural areas, are some of the primary drivers
to bring tourists out to regional areas. That then has flow-on effects for
local communities right across regional Western Australia. As a state government,
we have invested heavily in visitor infrastructure like this. One of our key
projects in recent times, which we had the opportunity to officially open last
week, was the new lookout at the Gap in Torndirrup National Park just outside
of Albany. It is a $6.1 million project. It picks up not only the Gap, but also
the Natural Bridge. It was funded through royalties for regions and also the
Department of Parks and Wildlife. The lookout offers an opportunity to
experience the dramatic southern coastline—those granite cliffs,
spectacular scenery —
Mr
P.B. Watson interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Albany, you can discuss the guest list after this
question, thank you. I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : Many members in this house may have visited the old lookout,
which was approximately halfway along the cliff and it sat just on the edge.
The new lookout takes visitors right out to the headland at the Gap. It
suspends viewers 40 metres above the ocean —
Mr
P.B. Watson : It's always been in that spot.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : Further out, member for Albany.
Mr
P.B. Watson interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Albany! Okay; take it up afterwards—definite
spots.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : There is a 10-metre cantilever and, importantly, a mesh floor
so that visitors can experience the waves rushing through into the Gap beneath
their feet. It is also now universally accessible for people with any mobility
impairments. Wherever possible, we seek to offer them the opportunity to also
experience our natural areas. High-quality infrastructure is a key part of
encouraging visitors into our national parks and into our natural areas. We
need to make sure that they understand why these areas are important to protect
and conserve. Visitation directly links to community value for conservation
outcomes. However, there is more to come in this area. Planning is already
underway for new cantilevered lookouts in Kalbarri National Park above
Murchison Gorge. We already have seen a boost in the number of regional
visitors to Torndirrup National Park, with more than 20 000 visitors in the few
weeks alone since we opened the lookout.
Mr P.B. Watson : Do
you get your numbers right today?
Mr A.P. JACOB :
Yes, I did; thank you very much, member for Albany.
Mr P.B. Watson interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany!
Mr A.P. JACOB :
This state has a long tradition of innovative visitor infrastructure in WA's
natural areas. Going right back to attractions such as the Gloucester tree or
the Bicentennial tree, they gave unique visitor experiences as a way to enjoy
our natural areas.
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr A.P. JACOB : We
can go through to more recent installations such as the Tree Top Walk in
Walpole or the Granite Skywalk in the Porongurups. These sorts of facilities
provide a unique way to experience our natural areas. They are key drivers of
regional tourism because often this state's natural areas, and new and
unique ways to experience those natural areas, are some of the primary drivers
to bring tourists out to regional areas. That then has flow-on effects for
local communities right across regional Western Australia. As a state government,
we have invested heavily in visitor infrastructure like this. One of our key
projects in recent times, which we had the opportunity to officially open last
week, was the new lookout at the Gap in Torndirrup National Park just outside
of Albany. It is a $6.1 million project. It picks up not only the Gap, but also
the Natural Bridge. It was funded through royalties for regions and also the
Department of Parks and Wildlife. The lookout offers an opportunity to
experience the dramatic southern coastline—those granite cliffs,
spectacular scenery —
Mr
P.B. Watson interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Albany, you can discuss the guest list after this
question, thank you. I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : Many members in this house may have visited the old lookout,
which was approximately halfway along the cliff and it sat just on the edge.
The new lookout takes visitors right out to the headland at the Gap. It
suspends viewers 40 metres above the ocean —
Mr
P.B. Watson : It's always been in that spot.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : Further out, member for Albany.
Mr
P.B. Watson interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Albany! Okay; take it up afterwards—definite
spots.
Mr
A.P. JACOB : There is a 10-metre cantilever and, importantly, a mesh floor
so that visitors can experience the waves rushing through into the Gap beneath
their feet. It is also now universally accessible for people with any mobility
impairments. Wherever possible, we seek to offer them the opportunity to also
experience our natural areas. High-quality infrastructure is a key part of
encouraging visitors into our national parks and into our natural areas. We
need to make sure that they understand why these areas are important to protect
and conserve. Visitation directly links to community value for conservation
outcomes. However, there is more to come in this area. Planning is already
underway for new cantilevered lookouts in Kalbarri National Park above
Murchison Gorge. We already have seen a boost in the number of regional
visitors to Torndirrup National Park, with more than 20 000 visitors in the few
weeks alone since we opened the lookout.
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