❓ Mrs. Roberts questions the Minister for Tourism regarding the potential loss of tourist accommodation on Thevenard Island due to the Wheatstone LNG project and the government's support for regional tourism. The Minister admits limited knowledge and awaits briefing notes.
AnsweredQoN 544Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WHEATSTONE LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS PROJECT —
THEVENARD ISLAND TOURIST ACCOMMODATION
544. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS to the Minister for Tourism:
I refer to story today in The West Australian 's business
section headlined ''Island flashpoint for LNG project''. The
article reveals the unsettling news that 80 per cent of the tourist
accommodation at a popular fishing resort on Thevenard Island off Onslow will
be used to house workers for Chevron's Wheatstone liquefied natural gas
project.
(1) Will
thousands of visitors to the region be denied access to this popular and unique
tourist accommodation located on a pristine part of the Pilbara coastline for
at least five years?
(2) Will the
minister intervene to stop the island accommodation being used for the LNG
project?
(3) Has the
minister spoken to the Minister for Regional Development about whether anything
can be done to support the town of Onslow—a town that will miss out on
valuable tourism dollars?
(4) Why is the
minister's government not doing more to support the tourism industry in
the regions?
THEVENARD ISLAND TOURIST ACCOMMODATION
544. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS to the Minister for Tourism:
I refer to story today in The West Australian 's business
section headlined ''Island flashpoint for LNG project''. The
article reveals the unsettling news that 80 per cent of the tourist
accommodation at a popular fishing resort on Thevenard Island off Onslow will
be used to house workers for Chevron's Wheatstone liquefied natural gas
project.
(1) Will
thousands of visitors to the region be denied access to this popular and unique
tourist accommodation located on a pristine part of the Pilbara coastline for
at least five years?
(2) Will the
minister intervene to stop the island accommodation being used for the LNG
project?
(3) Has the
minister spoken to the Minister for Regional Development about whether anything
can be done to support the town of Onslow—a town that will miss out on
valuable tourism dollars?
(4) Why is the
minister's government not doing more to support the tourism industry in
the regions?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(4)
I have to say I do not know a lot about this issue—only a little. I
understand, just from talking now to the Premier, that he is well across this
issue from the development side of this proposal. All I know is what I have
read in the paper. I am aware that Tourism WA has had some involvement in
looking at this issue, and just this morning I asked for briefing notes to
discuss it. My understanding is that there are two issues. One is with the work
that is going on there. As the member for Midland read in the paper, as I did,
with the work proposed there, there will be a lot of disturbance around the
island that will make it difficult for its enjoyment by tourists. The group
operating those tourist facilities were offered, when they return, a
significant upgrade to the tourist facilities that would be paid for by the
company. It is really up to the tourist operators to do that. There are a lot
of tourist facilities in that region and a lot of tourist facilities in the
state, but I cannot give the member a logical answer until I receive that
briefing note to see what further answer is received.
I have to say I do not know a lot about this issue—only a little. I
understand, just from talking now to the Premier, that he is well across this
issue from the development side of this proposal. All I know is what I have
read in the paper. I am aware that Tourism WA has had some involvement in
looking at this issue, and just this morning I asked for briefing notes to
discuss it. My understanding is that there are two issues. One is with the work
that is going on there. As the member for Midland read in the paper, as I did,
with the work proposed there, there will be a lot of disturbance around the
island that will make it difficult for its enjoyment by tourists. The group
operating those tourist facilities were offered, when they return, a
significant upgrade to the tourist facilities that would be paid for by the
company. It is really up to the tourist operators to do that. There are a lot
of tourist facilities in that region and a lot of tourist facilities in the
state, but I cannot give the member a logical answer until I receive that
briefing note to see what further answer is received.
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