❓ Mr. Alban questions the Minister for Environment on improvements to national park access via the 'Parks for People' program. The Minister details a $21 million investment in infrastructure and increased visitation, highlighting environmental benefits and future accessibility.
AnsweredQoN 406Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PARKS FOR PEOPLE PROGRAM — NATIONAL PARKS
AND CONSERVATION AREAS
406. Mr F.A. ALBAN to the Minister for Environment:
Can the minister please update the house on how the Liberal–National
government is improving access to the state's national parks and
conservation areas with a significant funding commitment in this year's
budget for the implementation of the Parks for People program?
AND CONSERVATION AREAS
406. Mr F.A. ALBAN to the Minister for Environment:
Can the minister please update the house on how the Liberal–National
government is improving access to the state's national parks and
conservation areas with a significant funding commitment in this year's
budget for the implementation of the Parks for People program?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Swan Hills for the question. Just
before I answer it, I acknowledge the year 11 students from Penrhos College in
the electorate of the member for South Perth who are in the gallery today.
The Parks for People program, which is being jointly funded
with royalties for regions, is going to see $21 million invested over the next four
years in camping, caravanning and visitor infrastructure in Western Australia's
national parks and conservation areas. Parks and forests visitation in this
state has increased by around 55 per cent over the past decade, and forward
projections have numbers running at around an 80 per cent increase over the
next 10 years. So, investing now in affordable and accessible holidaying and
visitation options for Western Australian families, I think, is a very
important investment for this government to make. This is not only about
holidaying options for Western Australian families—important though
that is—but also very much about the strong environmental outcome this
state gets from investing in these sorts of facilities in our natural areas. We
will be opening up new areas of national park and new areas of conservation in
the state, and we will be better protecting those areas by providing better
facilities through which visitors will be able to engage more responsibly with
our natural areas, and also facilities to encourage accommodation and indeed
passive surveillance, which also leads to a very good outcome for our natural
areas and areas that may be vandalised or have antisocial behaviour occurring
in them as they currently stand.
Mr C.J. Tallentire :
Any more rangers to look out for all those people in the national parks?
Mr A.P. JACOB : I
am only just starting to run through what we have to announce, member.
Works will include new lookouts, new boardwalks, walk trails
and camping facilities such as camp kitchens, picnic tables and other such
facilities. The focus of the program initially will be in the south west and
midwest, and also in our national parks in the Perth hills. Work will continue
in such national parks as Leeuwin–Naturaliste; importantly, I mention
Lane Poole and Logue Brook, which are very accessible, large camping areas nice
and adjacent to the metropolitan area. They are already very popular weekend—or
even sometimes longer—destinations. This $21 million over the next four
years builds on the more than $60 million that has already been allocated by
this state government to infrastructure in this state's marine and
national parks. This is another example of how this state government continues
to invest in the future by building long-term assets that will be there for the
enjoyment of future generations.
before I answer it, I acknowledge the year 11 students from Penrhos College in
the electorate of the member for South Perth who are in the gallery today.
The Parks for People program, which is being jointly funded
with royalties for regions, is going to see $21 million invested over the next four
years in camping, caravanning and visitor infrastructure in Western Australia's
national parks and conservation areas. Parks and forests visitation in this
state has increased by around 55 per cent over the past decade, and forward
projections have numbers running at around an 80 per cent increase over the
next 10 years. So, investing now in affordable and accessible holidaying and
visitation options for Western Australian families, I think, is a very
important investment for this government to make. This is not only about
holidaying options for Western Australian families—important though
that is—but also very much about the strong environmental outcome this
state gets from investing in these sorts of facilities in our natural areas. We
will be opening up new areas of national park and new areas of conservation in
the state, and we will be better protecting those areas by providing better
facilities through which visitors will be able to engage more responsibly with
our natural areas, and also facilities to encourage accommodation and indeed
passive surveillance, which also leads to a very good outcome for our natural
areas and areas that may be vandalised or have antisocial behaviour occurring
in them as they currently stand.
Mr C.J. Tallentire :
Any more rangers to look out for all those people in the national parks?
Mr A.P. JACOB : I
am only just starting to run through what we have to announce, member.
Works will include new lookouts, new boardwalks, walk trails
and camping facilities such as camp kitchens, picnic tables and other such
facilities. The focus of the program initially will be in the south west and
midwest, and also in our national parks in the Perth hills. Work will continue
in such national parks as Leeuwin–Naturaliste; importantly, I mention
Lane Poole and Logue Brook, which are very accessible, large camping areas nice
and adjacent to the metropolitan area. They are already very popular weekend—or
even sometimes longer—destinations. This $21 million over the next four
years builds on the more than $60 million that has already been allocated by
this state government to infrastructure in this state's marine and
national parks. This is another example of how this state government continues
to invest in the future by building long-term assets that will be there for the
enjoyment of future generations.
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